Namespace prefix 'ref' used but not declared. Error in BI Publisher Report.

Below error comes when we used higher version of BI Publisher and reports will be completing with warning.

[1/6/19 1:57:03 AM] [798109:RT11983076] Output file was found but is zero sized - Deleted
[1/6/19 1:57:03 AM] [UNEXPECTED] [798109:RT11983076] java.lang.reflect.InvocationTargetException
Caused by: org.xml.sax.SAXException: Namespace prefix 'ref' used but not declared.
oracle.xdo.parser.v2.XPathException: Namespace prefix 'ref' used but not declared.
        at oracle.xdo.parser.v2.XSLProcessor.reportException(XSLProcessor.java:806)
        at oracle.xdo.parser.v2.XSLProcessor.newXSLStylesheet(XSLProcessor.java:614)


In case MS Word (rtf template) Properties of the XML Field has source something like ‘<?ref:xdo0002?>’ then you will face this error.


Solution:
To resolve this issue we need to set "form field size" option as "Backward Compatible". See as follows.


Navigation: Open report Template => BI Publisher Tab => Option (highlighted as yellow) => Window will open => Select "Build" => Select "Backward Compatible" from "form field size" section.

 

Save the changes and upload the changed template and retest.