Bug Your Sitemap appears to be an HTML page error

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CharlieDelta

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I would get this error every once in a while on google webmaster but I just checked and all of my sitmap urls have this error message associated.
Your Sitemap appears to be an HTML page. Please use a supported sitemap format instead.
Here is a snapshot;
Webmaster Tools - Sitemaps - httpwww.archerandangler.png
 
Most of those entries are wrong - here's how the correct submission entries look: https://www.dropbox.com/s/fj7wi6db92zut36/Screenshot 2014-10-22 15.36.56.png?dl=0

Try deleting all the submissions except /forums/dbseositemap.php (#1). GWT should correctly detect this is a sitemap index and fetch all the relevant sub-sitemaps, without manually going into the store_sitemap folder. You'll be able to see a list of the sub-sitemaps by clicking on the /forums/dbseositemap.php in the list.
 
Oh I see. There was no need of me adding in each directory.
So does dbseositemap.php update each time the xml cron job is run? The last modified date is Oct 20 but my store sitmap directory all the xml modified dates are Oct 21.
 
Yeah, every time the sitemap updates it pings the search engines to go check the index file again, which downloads a list of all your sitemap files :)
 
I am now getting these errors on a consistent basis,
I resubmit but still get this error.
View attachment 6089

Delete all three of those submissions and only resubmit #1. The only item on your main sitemap list should be "/forums/dbseositemap.php". The errors could be related to duplicate submitted content. If you click on the "1 errors" it should give you more specific information on the error.

Once you get that cleaned up your indexed links numbers should start going up quickly.
 
Thanks for your help but I am now getting more errors and all are stating missing URL's. There has to be something wrong.
Webmaster Tools - Sitemaps - httpwww.archerandangler.png
 
That could just be a matter of Google checking your sitemap at the exact time it's being generated. I wouldn't worry too much about it, we have had that issue on DBTech and we are sitting at a 75% indexation rate.
 
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