diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 5951ee6..c53e473 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,18 @@
 
 All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 
+## 2.17.4 - 2026-10-23
+
+### Added
+
+- API regions can sort array results by a selected field in ascending or descending order, independently per region.
+- API placeholders can reference array entries by zero-based index, such as `{{0.name}}` and `{{1.name}}`; plain field placeholders continue to work with single-object responses.
+- API result previews show the first item as an expandable JSON tree.
+
+### Changed
+
+- Image dimension guides appear in the small editor preview but not in the popup preview.
+
 ## 2.17.3 - 2026-10-23
 
 ### Fixed
@@ -13,7 +25,7 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 
 ### Added
 
-- Added provider-specific weather normalization for Open-Meteo and Pirate Weather, giving current, hourly, and daily forecasts a shared format across previews, playback, and thumbnails, including cached responses, condition icons, timezone-aware dates, and independently selected display units.
+- Provider-specific weather normalization for Open-Meteo and Pirate Weather, giving current, hourly, and daily forecasts a shared format across previews, playback, and thumbnails, including cached responses, condition icons, timezone-aware dates, and independently selected display units.
 
 ### Fixed
 
@@ -30,9 +42,9 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 
 ### Added
 
-- Added read-only user previews from the Users page, controlled by Impersonate > Allow, with an expiring session, a persistent exit banner, and audit logging.
-- Added a responsive changelog page linked from About, with collapsible release history and the latest release expanded by default.
-- Added a password-only screen for required password changes, keeping profile and session controls unavailable until completion.
+- Read-only user previews from the Users page, controlled by Impersonate > Allow, with an expiring session, a persistent exit banner, and audit logging.
+- A responsive changelog page linked from About, with collapsible release history and the latest release expanded by default.
+- A password-only screen for required password changes, keeping profile and session controls unavailable until completion.
 - Dashboard-wide reload, pause, and blackout actions use Connected clients > Allow, the same permission as per-client commands.
 - Signed-in users without Dashboard access now land on their first permitted section; users without assigned sections get a no-access page with Account and Sign out options.
 - Role permission checkboxes show each permission's description on hover.
@@ -41,7 +53,7 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 
 ### Added
 
-- Added a responsive changelog page linked from About, with collapsible release history and the latest release expanded by default.
+- A responsive changelog page linked from About, with collapsible release history and the latest release expanded by default.
 
 ## 2.16.7 - 2026-10-22
 
@@ -88,7 +100,7 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 
 ### Added
 
-- Added an API source Enable/Disable action in the Connection card that pauses all request refreshes while preserving each request's individual enabled setting and unsaved form changes.
+- An API source Enable/Disable action in the Connection card that pauses all request refreshes while preserving each request's individual enabled setting and unsaved form changes.
 
 ### Fixed
 
@@ -101,19 +113,19 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 
 ### Added
 
-- Added API source groups with shared authentication and cached tokens, plus support for unauthenticated public APIs. Existing request IDs and slide bindings are preserved.
-- Added individually named request cards with independent URLs, enabled states, refresh schedules, and full-width response trees with Expand all/Collapse all controls. The Connection card provides source actions and Add request, with confirmation before removing a request.
-- Added group-level authentication testing and per-request diagnostics using unsaved settings, with dismissible results below the tested section. Diagnostic reports redact credentials and populated tokens while preserving OAuth metadata and null or empty token fields.
+- API source groups with shared authentication and cached tokens, plus support for unauthenticated public APIs. Existing request IDs and slide bindings are preserved.
+- Individually named request cards with independent URLs, enabled states, refresh schedules, and full-width response trees with Expand all/Collapse all controls. The Connection card provides source actions and Add request, with confirmation before removing a request.
+- Group-level authentication testing and per-request diagnostics using unsaved settings, with dismissible results below the tested section. Diagnostic reports redact credentials and populated tokens while preserving OAuth metadata and null or empty token fields.
 
 ## 2.16.0 - 2026-10-20
 
 ### Added
 
-- Added a slide layout editor with drag/resize, pixel position and size, z-index, ratio locking, keyboard nudging, undo/redo, and reset-to-template controls. Its wide modal leaves the sidebar visible and matches the template editor's region outlines; both editors provide alignment guides and snapping, with the template snap toggle in the Designer header.
-- Added slide-specific region geometry overrides that flow through previews, playback, and thumbnails without changing sibling slides. Users with template-edit permission can apply the layout to this slide or save it to the shared template; shared saves confirm the affected-slide count, preserve region IDs and animations, clear only the current slide's geometry overrides, and reject stale templates.
-- Added a separate slide animation editor with the template's presets and advanced timing controls, plus intro/outro/attention previews on the actual slide canvas. Changes can be applied to this slide or saved to the shared template; per-region and all-region reset actions are available, and shared saves preserve slide content and sibling overrides.
-- Added consistent +/- sizing controls to HTML region editors, matching WYSIWYG regions, with the sandboxed iframe note alongside the controls.
-- Added an API source connection test using unsaved form values, with separate authentication, data request, and JSON/items checks, sanitised response previews, available field paths, and a copyable diagnostic report in a dismissible results card without changing stored responses.
+- A slide layout editor with drag/resize, pixel position and size, z-index, ratio locking, keyboard nudging, undo/redo, and reset-to-template controls. Its wide modal leaves the sidebar visible and matches the template editor's region outlines; both editors provide alignment guides and snapping, with the template snap toggle in the Designer header.
+- Slide-specific region geometry overrides that flow through previews, playback, and thumbnails without changing sibling slides. Users with template-edit permission can apply the layout to this slide or save it to the shared template; shared saves confirm the affected-slide count, preserve region IDs and animations, clear only the current slide's geometry overrides, and reject stale templates.
+- A separate slide animation editor with the template's presets and advanced timing controls, plus intro/outro/attention previews on the actual slide canvas. Changes can be applied to this slide or saved to the shared template; per-region and all-region reset actions are available, and shared saves preserve slide content and sibling overrides.
+- Consistent +/- sizing controls to HTML region editors, matching WYSIWYG regions, with the sandboxed iframe note alongside the controls.
+- An API source connection test using unsaved form values, with separate authentication, data request, and JSON/items checks, sanitised response previews, available field paths, and a copyable diagnostic report in a dismissible results card without changing stored responses.
 
 ### Changed
 
@@ -123,8 +135,8 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 
 ### Fixed
 
-- Fixed region dragging and resizing when template animation metadata is null.
-- Fixed template and slide region outlines so they follow sizes below 12px, including scaled one-pixel regions, while keeping resize handles usable.
+- Region dragging and resizing when template animation metadata is null.
+- Template and slide region outlines so they follow sizes below 12px, including scaled one-pixel regions, while keeping resize handles usable.
 
 ## 2.15.7 - 2026-10-19
 
@@ -142,8 +154,8 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 
 ### Added
 
-- Added an All timetable display mode that includes past items while respecting date filters and the item limit.
-- Added filename renaming in Media Library image and video previews without changing stored media paths or slide references.
+- An All timetable display mode that includes past items while respecting date filters and the item limit.
+- Filename renaming in Media Library image and video previews without changing stored media paths or slide references.
 
 ### Changed
 
@@ -165,8 +177,8 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 
 ### Added
 
-- Added configurable audit events for media-library assets, managed fonts, and weather icon sets.
-- Added All / Between Dates / Before Date / After Date filtering to timetable regions, with optional inclusive start-time boundaries shared by previews and playback.
+- Configurable audit events for media-library assets, managed fonts, and weather icon sets.
+- All / Between Dates / Before Date / After Date filtering to timetable regions, with optional inclusive start-time boundaries shared by previews and playback.
 
 ### Changed
 
@@ -197,13 +209,13 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 
 ### Added
 
-- Added Pick / Repeat group modes beside the group title. Repeat plays the entire eligible group in order for the configured number of passes, independently of Pick and shuffle settings.
+- Pick / Repeat group modes beside the group title. Repeat plays the entire eligible group in order for the configured number of passes, independently of Pick and shuffle settings.
 
 ## 2.15.1 - 2026-10-15
 
 ### Added
 
-- Added an optional shuffle toggle for playlist groups; ordered rotation is now the default.
+- An optional shuffle toggle for playlist groups; ordered rotation is now the default.
 
 ### Changed
 
@@ -214,7 +226,7 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 
 ### Added
 
-- Added playlist groups with configurable per-pass selection counts and independent multi-rule display schedules.
+- Playlist groups with configurable per-pass selection counts and independent multi-rule display schedules.
 
 ## 2.14.3 - 2026-10-13
 
@@ -226,7 +238,7 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 
 ### Added
 
-- Added managed weather icon sets under Settings > Assets, with day and optional night variants, PNG/WebP/SVG uploads, per-region selection, and player synchronization.
+- Managed weather icon sets under Settings > Assets, with day and optional night variants, PNG/WebP/SVG uploads, per-region selection, and player synchronization.
 
 ### Changed
 
@@ -236,7 +248,7 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 
 ### Added
 
-- Added a configurable text size for chart axis labels, legends, and tooltips.
+- A configurable text size for chart axis labels, legends, and tooltips.
 
 ### Changed
 
@@ -259,10 +271,10 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 
 ### Added
 
-- Added configurable chart data sources, multi-series line charts, chart type and source options, value ordering, grid line colors, and text colors across editor, popout preview, and player rendering.
-- Added player playlist and playback recovery for cached snapshots, offline states, stalled media, failed image/video loads, and service-worker cache failures.
-- Added deterministic image derivatives for large uploads while preserving the original file and preventing generated variants from exceeding the original dimensions or file size.
-- Added immediate template background uploads with shared media validation, variant generation, cleanup of abandoned uploads, and permission checks.
+- Configurable chart data sources, multi-series line charts, chart type and source options, value ordering, grid line colors, and text colors across editor, popout preview, and player rendering.
+- Player playlist and playback recovery for cached snapshots, offline states, stalled media, failed image/video loads, and service-worker cache failures.
+- Deterministic image derivatives for large uploads while preserving the original file and preventing generated variants from exceeding the original dimensions or file size.
+- Immediate template background uploads with shared media validation, variant generation, cleanup of abandoned uploads, and permission checks.
 
 ### Changed
 
@@ -280,13 +292,13 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 
 ### Fixed
 
-- Fixed the template background image media picker Upload media button so it opens the file selector.
-- Fixed the template designer empty background message moving when the background image is removed.
-- Fixed cached API and RSS images not being served by the player after being downloaded.
-- Fixed blank time/date regions displaying the default clock format on the player.
-- Fixed the time/date placeholder popup omitting text and math transform help.
-- Fixed empty region previews displaying type labels instead of remaining blank.
-- Fixed empty weather regions displaying the default weather summary.
+- The template background image media picker Upload media button so it opens the file selector.
+- The template designer empty background message moving when the background image is removed.
+- Cached API and RSS images not being served by the player after being downloaded.
+- Blank time/date regions displaying the default clock format on the player.
+- The time/date placeholder popup omitting text and math transform help.
+- Empty region previews displaying type labels instead of remaining blank.
+- Empty weather regions displaying the default weather summary.
 
 ## 2.13.2 - 2026-09-11
 
@@ -298,7 +310,7 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 
 ### Added
 
-- Added the shared Media Library to slide region controls and template editors, preserving existing media paths while providing safe private uploads, responsive four-row server-side batching, and card-only scrolling with Load more pagination.
+- The shared Media Library to slide region controls and template editors, preserving existing media paths while providing safe private uploads, responsive four-row server-side batching, and card-only scrolling with Load more pagination.
 
 ### Changed
 
@@ -310,9 +322,9 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 
 ### Added
 
-- Added offline-capable Local Control for central users with `clients.allow`, scoped to each player and its connected clients, with responsive client actions, current slide titles, and live WebSocket updates for pause and blackout state changes.
-- Added player-specific HTTP-only sessions, minimized cached authentication data with hashed usernames, immediate session and socket revocation when authorization changes, and login throttling after repeated failures.
-- Added web-owned authorization synchronization: connected remote players refresh every fifteen minutes and receive the current authorization state immediately after reconnecting, while the configured local player is excluded from remote fanout.
+- Offline-capable Local Control for central users with `clients.allow`, scoped to each player and its connected clients, with responsive client actions, current slide titles, and live WebSocket updates for pause and blackout state changes.
+- Player-specific HTTP-only sessions, minimized cached authentication data with hashed usernames, immediate session and socket revocation when authorization changes, and login throttling after repeated failures.
+- Web-owned authorization synchronization: connected remote players refresh every fifteen minutes and receive the current authorization state immediately after reconnecting, while the configured local player is excluded from remote fanout.
 
 ## 2.11.3 - 2026-09-08
 
@@ -382,7 +394,7 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 
 ### Fixed
 
-- Fixed client screen moves from mobile cards so the next move disables the client’s current screen group rather than its previous one.
+- Client screen moves from mobile cards so the next move disables the client’s current screen group rather than its previous one.
 - Removed unused Bootstrap Icons font preloads that triggered browser warnings on pages where icons were not rendered.
 
 ## 2.10.6 - 2026-08-29
@@ -398,23 +410,23 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 
 ### Fixed
 
-- Fixed remote player commands and media synchronization so they route through the bridge using the physical player device identity, including announcement and playlist refresh notifications.
-- Fixed player media handling for remote bridge uploads and deletes by using the bridge endpoint with explicit player-device authentication.
-- Fixed player service-worker caching so ranged media requests bypass stale cached responses and video playback remains reliable.
+- Remote player commands and media synchronization so they route through the bridge using the physical player device identity, including announcement and playlist refresh notifications.
+- Player media handling for remote bridge uploads and deletes by using the bridge endpoint with explicit player-device authentication.
+- Player service-worker caching so ranged media requests bypass stale cached responses and video playback remains reliable.
 
 ## 2.10.5 - 2026-08-29
 
 ### Fixed
 
-- Fixed intermittent pairing failures while player registration and pairing sessions propagate through the bridge by retrying transient resolution and completion requests.
-- Fixed the pairing page so transient submission failures retry automatically and pairing progress uses a single spinner without dimming the form.
-- Fixed the player onboarding page so it continues polling until the pairing code and QR code are available.
+- Intermittent pairing failures while player registration and pairing sessions propagate through the bridge by retrying transient resolution and completion requests.
+- The pairing page so transient submission failures retry automatically and pairing progress uses a single spinner without dimming the form.
+- The player onboarding page so it continues polling until the pairing code and QR code are available.
 
 ## 2.10.4 - 2026-08-29
 
 ### Fixed
 
-- Fixed remote client move commands so they route through the player bridge to the correct browser tab using the physical player identity and connection ID.
+- Remote client move commands so they route through the player bridge to the correct browser tab using the physical player identity and connection ID.
 - Removed the obsolete `PLAYER_BASE_URL` configuration fallback; command routing uses `PLAYER_INTERNAL_URL` locally or the player bridge remotely, while `PLAYER_PUBLIC_URL` remains available for kiosk launcher and direct player access.
 - Removed the player URL list from screen-group add/edit pages and expanded the remaining form card to full width.
 
@@ -427,19 +439,19 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 
 ### Fixed
 
-- Fixed the weather edit preview so the daily forecast is shown initially, the 24-hour forecast is hidden until selected, and the redundant hourly heading is removed.
-- Fixed onboarding cleanup so incomplete pairings are retained for the 15-minute pairing-code lifetime while inactive completed bindings are pruned after 24 hours.
-- Fixed client-name handling so offline names can be reused, active collisions receive numeric suffixes, and reconnecting players resolve duplicate names consistently.
-- Fixed an internal server error when renaming clients by forwarding the available-name resolver to the client command routes.
-- Fixed remote client moves to resolve the paired browser client binding before changing its target screen.
-- Fixed remote player heartbeats to update the central onboarding bindings for active browser clients without treating the physical player registry ID as a client binding.
-- Fixed targeted commands after browser reconnects by falling back to the stable client ID when a transient connection ID is stale.
-- Fixed stale browser command connections remaining active indefinitely when the physical player heartbeat was still healthy.
-- Fixed media synchronization so generated player caches are excluded while remote image caches remain available to players.
-- Fixed weather screen notifications so changes in the fetched data or the current forecast hour trigger a refresh.
-- Fixed player runtime script loading and slide rendering so region modules, transitions, and cached playlists initialize consistently.
-- Fixed command delivery reporting to require acknowledgement from the receiving browser tab.
-- Fixed playlist refresh notifications to target the physical player hosting each screen instead of always targeting the local player.
+- The weather edit preview so the daily forecast is shown initially, the 24-hour forecast is hidden until selected, and the redundant hourly heading is removed.
+- Onboarding cleanup so incomplete pairings are retained for the 15-minute pairing-code lifetime while inactive completed bindings are pruned after 24 hours.
+- Client-name handling so offline names can be reused, active collisions receive numeric suffixes, and reconnecting players resolve duplicate names consistently.
+- An internal server error when renaming clients by forwarding the available-name resolver to the client command routes.
+- Remote client moves to resolve the paired browser client binding before changing its target screen.
+- Remote player heartbeats to update the central onboarding bindings for active browser clients without treating the physical player registry ID as a client binding.
+- Targeted commands after browser reconnects by falling back to the stable client ID when a transient connection ID is stale.
+- Stale browser command connections remaining active indefinitely when the physical player heartbeat was still healthy.
+- Media synchronization so generated player caches are excluded while remote image caches remain available to players.
+- Weather screen notifications so changes in the fetched data or the current forecast hour trigger a refresh.
+- Player runtime script loading and slide rendering so region modules, transitions, and cached playlists initialize consistently.
+- Command delivery reporting to require acknowledgement from the receiving browser tab.
+- Playlist refresh notifications to target the physical player hosting each screen instead of always targeting the local player.
 
 ## 2.10.2 - 2026-08-28
 
@@ -449,7 +461,7 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 
 ### Fixed
 
-- Fixed the weather forecast preview to show only its first-fetch message until a successful forecast is available.
+- The weather forecast preview to show only its first-fetch message until a successful forecast is available.
 
 ## 2.10.1 - 2026-08-28
 
@@ -527,7 +539,7 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 
 ### Fixed
 
-- Fixed thumbnail capture timing so video assets are ready before the preview canvas is captured.
+- Thumbnail capture timing so video assets are ready before the preview canvas is captured.
 - Replaced unavailable webpage thumbnails with a subdued placeholder while keeping live webpage previews intact.
 
 ## 2.8.4 - 2026-08-17
@@ -539,9 +551,9 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 
 ### Fixed
 
-- Fixed popup preview authentication for background thumbnail capture.
-- Fixed thumbnails so they use the same popup-preview canvas and resolve API/RSS placeholders, fonts, styles, and cached images correctly.
-- Fixed manual scheduled-task run notifications so they use task-neutral wording.
+- Popup preview authentication for background thumbnail capture.
+- Thumbnails so they use the same popup-preview canvas and resolve API/RSS placeholders, fonts, styles, and cached images correctly.
+- Manual scheduled-task run notifications so they use task-neutral wording.
 
 ## 2.8.3 - 2026-08-17
 
@@ -1217,7 +1229,7 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 ### Fixed
 
 - Removed several onboarding and runtime code paths that were still inserting or refreshing `d_players` rows during normal player playback.
-- Fixed the screen-binding flow so it no longer writes a device UUID into `d_screens.player_id`, which avoided foreign key errors under the shared-player model.
+- The screen-binding flow so it no longer writes a device UUID into `d_screens.player_id`, which avoided foreign key errors under the shared-player model.
 
 ## 2.0.0 - 2026-07-28
 
@@ -1356,7 +1368,7 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 
 ### Fixed
 
-- Fixed a migration gap that could leave `slides.thumbnail_path` missing on upgraded databases.
+- A migration gap that could leave `slides.thumbnail_path` missing on upgraded databases.
 
 ## 1.5.4 - 2026-07-25
 
@@ -1393,13 +1405,13 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 
 ### Fixed
 
-- Fixed player media upload sync so signed upload requests are verified after the request body has been parsed.
+- Player media upload sync so signed upload requests are verified after the request body has been parsed.
 
 ## 1.5.1 - 2026-07-25
 
 ### Fixed
 
-- Fixed the account page so it can save changes again.
+- The account page so it can save changes again.
 
 ## 1.5.0 - 2026-07-25
 
@@ -1452,13 +1464,13 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 
 ### Fixed
 
-- Fixed RBAC client action visibility.
+- RBAC client action visibility.
 
 ## 1.4.2 - 2026-07-21
 
 ### Fixed
 
-- Fixed duplicate permissions cleanup.
+- Duplicate permissions cleanup.
 
 ## 1.4.1 - 2026-07-21
 
@@ -1478,7 +1490,7 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 
 ### Fixed
 
-- Fixed duplicate onboarding client names.
+- Duplicate onboarding client names.
 
 ## 1.3.3 - 2026-07-21
 
@@ -1514,20 +1526,20 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 
 ### Fixed
 
-- Fixed screen playlist reassignment so changing a screen's playlist now triggers a refresh.
-- Fixed single-slide playlist refresh behavior so updates do not get stuck behind the current slide.
+- Screen playlist reassignment so changing a screen's playlist now triggers a refresh.
+- Single-slide playlist refresh behavior so updates do not get stuck behind the current slide.
 
 ## 1.1.5 - 2026-07-15
 
 ### Fixed
 
-- Fixed text pasting in the admin UI.
+- Text pasting in the admin UI.
 
 ## 1.1.4 - 2026-07-15
 
 ### Fixed
 
-- Fixed the admin table and playlist reorder UI.
+- The admin table and playlist reorder UI.
 
 ## 1.1.3 - 2026-07-15
 
diff --git a/build/package.player.json b/build/package.player.json
index 60f836e..3531d50 100644
--- a/build/package.player.json
+++ b/build/package.player.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "pulse-signage-player",
-  "version": "2.17.3",
+  "version": "2.17.4",
   "private": false,
   "description": "Pulse Signage player application bundle",
   "engines": {
diff --git a/build/package.web.json b/build/package.web.json
index 0270d03..a7ceec9 100644
--- a/build/package.web.json
+++ b/build/package.web.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "pulse-signage-web",
-  "version": "2.17.3",
+  "version": "2.17.4",
   "private": false,
   "description": "Pulse Signage web and bridge application bundle",
   "engines": {
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 180c914..93c4322 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "pulse-signage",
-  "version": "2.17.3",
+  "version": "2.17.4",
   "lockfileVersion": 3,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "pulse-signage",
-      "version": "2.17.3",
+      "version": "2.17.4",
       "dependencies": {
         "animate.css": "^4.1.1",
         "bootstrap-icons": "1.13.1",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 8cf7455..f035f1f 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "pulse-signage",
-  "version": "2.17.3",
+  "version": "2.17.4",
   "private": false,
   "description": "Pulse Signage application with MySQL and media storage",
   "engines": {
diff --git a/src/data/slides.js b/src/data/slides.js
index ff43ec8..a8f6e94 100644
--- a/src/data/slides.js
+++ b/src/data/slides.js
@@ -466,6 +466,9 @@ async function buildTemplateContent(pool, template, body, filesByField, existing
       const sourceId = body[`region_api_source_id_${region.id}`];
       const itemNumber = body[`region_api_item_number_${region.id}`];
       const itemsPath = body[`region_api_items_path_${region.id}`];
+      const sortMode = body[`region_api_sort_mode_${region.id}`];
+      const sortBy = body[`region_api_sort_by_${region.id}`];
+      const sortDirection = body[`region_api_sort_direction_${region.id}`];
       const parsedItemNumber = Math.max(1, Number(itemNumber || current.item_number || 1));
       content[region.region_key] = {
         type: 'api',
@@ -473,6 +476,8 @@ async function buildTemplateContent(pool, template, body, filesByField, existing
         source_id: sourceId === undefined || sourceId === null ? (current.source_id || null) : (sourceId === '' ? null : Number(sourceId)),
         item_number: Number.isFinite(parsedItemNumber) && parsedItemNumber > 0 ? parsedItemNumber : 1,
         items_path: itemsPath === undefined || itemsPath === null ? (current.items_path === undefined || current.items_path === null ? '' : String(current.items_path)) : String(itemsPath || '').trim(),
+        sort_by: sortMode === undefined ? String(current.sort_by || '') : (sortMode === 'field' ? String(sortBy || '').trim() : ''),
+        sort_direction: sortDirection === undefined ? (String(current.sort_direction || '').toLowerCase() === 'desc' ? 'desc' : 'asc') : (sortDirection === 'desc' ? 'desc' : 'asc'),
         variable_name: 'item',
         font_family: style.font_family,
         font_size: style.font_size,
diff --git a/src/player/playlist.js b/src/player/playlist.js
index 921c15c..39cda48 100644
--- a/src/player/playlist.js
+++ b/src/player/playlist.js
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ const { convertWeatherSnapshot } = require('#src/data/weather-units');
 const fs = require('fs');
 const path = require('path');
 const { createStyledQrCodeDataUrl } = require('#src/data/qr-code');
-const { resolveApiItems } = require('#src/web/public/js/shared/placeholder-utils');
+const { resolveApiItems, sortApiItems } = require('#src/web/public/js/shared/placeholder-utils');
 
 const IMAGE_VARIANT_DIMENSIONS = [2048, 4096, 8192, 16384];
 
@@ -157,8 +157,14 @@ function createPlayerPlaylistService(options) {
         const itemNumber = Math.max(1, Number(region.item_number || 1)) - 1;
         if (String(region.type || '').toLowerCase() === 'api') {
           const source = (apiSources || []).find(function (entry) { return Number(entry.id) === Number(region.source_id); });
-          const items = source ? resolveApiItems(source.responseJson, region.items_path === undefined || region.items_path === null ? source.items_path : region.items_path) : [];
-          await cacheSource(source, items[itemNumber], expressions);
+          const items = source ? sortApiItems(resolveApiItems(source.responseJson, region.items_path === undefined || region.items_path === null ? source.items_path : region.items_path), region.sort_by, region.sort_direction) : [];
+          for (const expression of expressions) {
+            const indexedMatch = String(expression || '').match(/^\s*(\d+)\.(.+)$/);
+            const resultIndex = indexedMatch ? Number(indexedMatch[1]) : 0;
+            const targetItem = indexedMatch ? items[resultIndex] : items[itemNumber];
+            const targetExpression = indexedMatch ? indexedMatch[2] : expression;
+            await cacheSource(source, targetItem, [targetExpression]);
+          }
         }
         if (String(region.type || '').toLowerCase() === 'rss') {
           const feed = (rssFeeds || []).find(function (entry) { return Number(entry.id) === Number(region.feed_id); });
diff --git a/src/player/regions/api.js b/src/player/regions/api.js
index a787ea1..9db93b2 100644
--- a/src/player/regions/api.js
+++ b/src/player/regions/api.js
@@ -19,24 +19,29 @@ function getApiSourceItemsPath(source, overridePath) {
   return String(overridePath || '').trim();
 }
 
-function getApiSourceItems(sourceId, itemsPathOverride) {
+function getApiSourceItems(sourceId, itemsPathOverride, sortBy, sortDirection) {
   var source = getApiSourceById(sourceId);
   var responseJson = source && source.responseJson && typeof source.responseJson === 'object' ? source.responseJson : null;
   var itemsPath = getApiSourceItemsPath(source, itemsPathOverride);
-  return placeholderUtils.resolveApiItems(responseJson, itemsPath);
+  var items = placeholderUtils.resolveApiItems(responseJson, itemsPath);
+  return typeof placeholderUtils.sortApiItems === 'function' ? placeholderUtils.sortApiItems(items, sortBy, sortDirection) : items;
 }
 
-function getApiItem(sourceId, itemNumber, itemsPathOverride) {
-  var items = getApiSourceItems(sourceId, itemsPathOverride);
+function getApiItem(sourceId, itemNumber, itemsPathOverride, sortBy, sortDirection) {
+  var items = getApiSourceItems(sourceId, itemsPathOverride, sortBy, sortDirection);
   var parsedItemNumber = Math.max(1, Number(itemNumber || 1));
   var index = Number.isFinite(parsedItemNumber) && parsedItemNumber > 0 ? parsedItemNumber - 1 : 0;
   return items[index] || null;
 }
 
-function substituteApiVariables(html, item, sourceId) {
+function substituteApiVariables(html, item, sourceId, items) {
   var source = String(html || '');
   return source.replace(/\{\{\s*([^{}]+?)\s*\}\}/g, function (_match, expression) {
-    if (!item || typeof item !== 'object') {
+    var indexedMatch = String(expression || '').match(/^\s*(\d+)\.(.+)$/);
+    var resultIndex = indexedMatch ? Number(indexedMatch[1]) : 0;
+    var expressionItem = indexedMatch ? (Array.isArray(items) ? items[resultIndex] : null) : item;
+    var resolvedExpression = indexedMatch ? indexedMatch[2] : expression;
+    if (!expressionItem || typeof expressionItem !== 'object') {
       return '';
     }
 
@@ -44,18 +49,18 @@ function substituteApiVariables(html, item, sourceId) {
       return '';
     }
 
-    var resolved = placeholderUtils.resolvePlaceholderExpression(item, expression);
-    if (typeof placeholderUtils.isProgressPlaceholderExpression === 'function' && placeholderUtils.isProgressPlaceholderExpression(expression)) {
-      return placeholderUtils.renderProgressPlaceholder(item, expression);
+    var resolved = placeholderUtils.resolvePlaceholderExpression(expressionItem, resolvedExpression);
+    if (typeof placeholderUtils.isProgressPlaceholderExpression === 'function' && placeholderUtils.isProgressPlaceholderExpression(resolvedExpression)) {
+      return placeholderUtils.renderProgressPlaceholder(expressionItem, resolvedExpression);
     }
-    if (typeof placeholderUtils.isImagePlaceholderExpression === 'function' && placeholderUtils.isImagePlaceholderExpression(expression)) {
+    if (typeof placeholderUtils.isImagePlaceholderExpression === 'function' && placeholderUtils.isImagePlaceholderExpression(resolvedExpression)) {
       var imageSource = placeholderUtils.formatPlaceholderValue(resolved);
       var source = getApiSourceById(sourceId);
       imageSource = source && source.imageCache && source.imageCache[imageSource] ? source.imageCache[imageSource] : imageSource;
       if (!/^(?:https?:\/\/|\/media\/|\/assets\/|\/[^/])/i.test(imageSource)) {
         return '';
       }
-      var imageConfig = typeof placeholderUtils.getImagePlaceholderConfig === 'function' ? placeholderUtils.getImagePlaceholderConfig(expression) : {};
+      var imageConfig = typeof placeholderUtils.getImagePlaceholderConfig === 'function' ? placeholderUtils.getImagePlaceholderConfig(resolvedExpression) : {};
       var hasImageBounds = imageConfig.width && imageConfig.height;
       var imageStyle = hasImageBounds
         ? 'display:block;width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:contain;'
@@ -102,12 +107,17 @@ function renderApiRegion(region, regionContent) {
   var sourceId = regionContent && regionContent.source_id !== undefined ? regionContent.source_id : null;
   var itemNumber = regionContent && regionContent.item_number !== undefined ? regionContent.item_number : 1;
   var itemsPath = regionContent && regionContent.items_path !== undefined ? regionContent.items_path : '';
+  var sortBy = regionContent && regionContent.sort_by !== undefined ? regionContent.sort_by : '';
+  var sortDirection = regionContent && regionContent.sort_direction !== undefined ? regionContent.sort_direction : 'asc';
   var fontFamily = sanitizeFontFamily(regionContent.font_family || region.fontFamily);
   var fontSize = sanitizeFontSize(regionContent.font_size || region.fontSize);
   var fontColor = sanitizeTextColor(regionContent.font_color || region.fontColor);
-  var item = getApiItem(sourceId, itemNumber, itemsPath);
+  var items = getApiSourceItems(sourceId, itemsPath, sortBy, sortDirection);
+  var parsedItemNumber = Math.max(1, Number(itemNumber || 1));
+  var itemIndex = Number.isFinite(parsedItemNumber) && parsedItemNumber > 0 ? parsedItemNumber - 1 : 0;
+  var item = items[itemIndex] || null;
   var hasSource = String(sourceId === undefined || sourceId === null ? '' : sourceId).trim() !== '';
-  var body = hasSource ? (item ? substituteApiVariables(content, item, sourceId) : '') : content;
+  var body = hasSource ? (item || items.length ? substituteApiVariables(content, item, sourceId, items) : '') : content;
   var contentStyle = 'width:' + region.pixelWidth + 'px;height:' + region.pixelHeight + 'px;transform:scale(' + region.canvasScale + ');transform-origin:top left;' + (fontFamily ? 'font-family:' + escapeHtml(fontFamily) + ';' : '') + 'font-size:' + fontSize + 'px;color:' + escapeHtml(fontColor) + ';';
   if (!body) {
     return '';
diff --git a/src/web/public/css/theme-custom.css b/src/web/public/css/theme-custom.css
index 5649843..5f0d785 100644
--- a/src/web/public/css/theme-custom.css
+++ b/src/web/public/css/theme-custom.css
@@ -3716,47 +3716,81 @@ html[data-bs-theme='dark'] .template-field-card .tox .tox-collection {
 
 .api-region-placeholder-section {
   display: grid;
-  gap: 0.5rem;
-  padding-top: 0.25rem;
-  padding-bottom: 0.5rem;
+  gap: 0.4rem;
+  padding-top: 0.125rem;
+  padding-bottom: 0.25rem;
   margin-bottom: 0;
 }
 
 .api-region-placeholder-title {
-  color: var(--bs-primary);
-  font-size: 0.8rem;
-  font-weight: 800;
-  letter-spacing: 0.06em;
-  text-transform: uppercase;
+  color: var(--bs-secondary-color);
+  font-size: 0.78rem;
+  font-weight: 600;
 }
 
 .api-region-placeholder-title-help {
-  font-size: 0.9rem;
-  font-weight: 800;
+  font-size: 0.8rem;
+  font-weight: 600;
   letter-spacing: normal;
   text-transform: none;
 }
 
-.api-region-sample-accordion {
-  padding: 0.85rem 1rem 1rem;
-  margin-bottom: 0.75rem;
+.api-region-placeholder-section .chip {
+  padding: 0.2rem 0.45rem;
   border: 1px solid var(--bs-border-color);
-  border-radius: 0.85rem;
-  background: var(--bs-secondary-bg);
+  border-radius: 0.3rem;
+  background: transparent;
+  color: var(--bs-secondary-color);
+  font-family: var(--bs-font-monospace);
+  font-size: 0.75rem;
 }
 
-.api-region-sample-accordion > summary {
+.api-region-placeholder-section .chip:hover {
+  border-color: var(--bs-secondary-color);
+  background: var(--bs-tertiary-bg);
+}
+
+.api-region-placeholder-section .chip:focus-visible {
+  outline: 2px solid var(--bs-primary);
+  outline-offset: 2px;
+}
+
+.api-region-sample-accordion {
+  margin-bottom: 0.75rem;
+}
+
+.api-region-sample-header {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: 0.5rem;
+}
+
+.api-region-sample-toggle {
+  display: flex;
+  flex: 1 1 auto;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: space-between;
+  gap: 0.75rem;
+  box-sizing: border-box;
+  height: 2.5rem;
+  padding: 0.375rem 0.75rem;
   cursor: pointer;
-  list-style: none;
-  color: var(--bs-primary);
-  font-size: 0.8rem;
+  font-size: 0.875rem;
   font-weight: 800;
-  letter-spacing: 0.06em;
-  text-transform: uppercase;
+  text-align: left;
 }
 
-.api-region-sample-accordion > summary::-webkit-details-marker {
-  display: none;
+.api-region-sample-toggle:focus-visible {
+  outline: 2px solid var(--bs-primary);
+  outline-offset: 2px;
+}
+
+.api-region-sample-chevron {
+  transition: transform 120ms ease;
+}
+
+.api-region-sample-accordion.is-open .api-region-sample-chevron {
+  transform: rotate(180deg);
 }
 
 .api-region-sample-body {
@@ -3765,19 +3799,21 @@ html[data-bs-theme='dark'] .template-field-card .tox .tox-collection {
   margin-top: 0.75rem;
 }
 
+.api-region-sample-body[hidden] {
+  display: none;
+}
+
 .api-region-sample-meta {
   color: var(--bs-secondary-color);
   font-size: 0.78rem;
 }
 
 .api-region-sample-preview {
-  max-height: 12rem;
-  overflow: auto;
   margin: 0;
   padding: 0.75rem;
-  border-radius: 0.65rem;
-  background: var(--bs-body-bg);
-  border: 1px solid var(--bs-border-color-translucent);
+  border: 0;
+  border-radius: 0.375rem;
+  background: var(--bs-secondary-bg);
   white-space: pre-wrap;
   word-break: break-word;
   font-size: 0.78rem;
diff --git a/src/web/public/js/regions/type/api.js b/src/web/public/js/regions/type/api.js
index 7281435..cdfe735 100644
--- a/src/web/public/js/regions/type/api.js
+++ b/src/web/public/js/regions/type/api.js
@@ -47,15 +47,16 @@
     return String(overridePath || '').trim();
   }
 
-  function getItems(sourceId, sources, itemsPathOverride) {
+  function getItems(sourceId, sources, itemsPathOverride, sortBy, sortDirection) {
     var source = getSourceById(sourceId, sources);
     var responseJson = source && source.responseJson && typeof source.responseJson === 'object' ? source.responseJson : null;
     var itemsPath = getSourceItemsPath(source, itemsPathOverride);
-    return placeholderUtils.resolveApiItems(responseJson, itemsPath);
+    var items = placeholderUtils.resolveApiItems(responseJson, itemsPath);
+    return typeof placeholderUtils.sortApiItems === 'function' ? placeholderUtils.sortApiItems(items, sortBy, sortDirection) : items;
   }
 
-  function getItemCount(sourceId, sources, itemsPathOverride) {
-    return getItems(sourceId, sources, itemsPathOverride).length;
+  function getItemCount(sourceId, sources, itemsPathOverride, sortBy, sortDirection) {
+    return getItems(sourceId, sources, itemsPathOverride, sortBy, sortDirection).length;
   }
 
   function getCurrentConfig(region, existingContent, sources) {
@@ -66,15 +67,21 @@
       source_id: current.source_id === undefined || current.source_id === null || current.source_id === '' ? '' : Number(current.source_id),
       item_number: Number.isFinite(parsedItemNumber) && parsedItemNumber > 0 ? parsedItemNumber : 1,
       items_path: Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(current, 'items_path') ? String(current.items_path === undefined || current.items_path === null ? '' : current.items_path) : undefined,
+      sort_by: String(current.sort_by || ''),
+      sort_direction: String(current.sort_direction || 'asc').toLowerCase() === 'desc' ? 'desc' : 'asc',
       default_items_path: String(source && (source.items_path || source.itemsPath) || '').trim(),
       value: current.value !== undefined ? current.value : ''
     };
   }
 
-  function substituteVariables(html, item, options) {
+  function substituteVariables(html, item, options, items) {
     var source = String(html || '');
     return source.replace(/\{\{\s*([^{}]+?)\s*\}\}/g, function (_match, expression) {
-      if (!item || typeof item !== 'object') {
+      var indexedMatch = String(expression || '').match(/^\s*(\d+)\.(.+)$/);
+      var resultIndex = indexedMatch ? Number(indexedMatch[1]) : 0;
+      var expressionItem = indexedMatch ? (Array.isArray(items) ? items[resultIndex] : null) : item;
+      var resolvedExpression = indexedMatch ? indexedMatch[2] : expression;
+      if (!expressionItem || typeof expressionItem !== 'object') {
         return '';
       }
 
@@ -82,16 +89,16 @@
         return '';
       }
 
-      var resolved = placeholderUtils.resolvePlaceholderExpression(item, expression);
-      if (typeof placeholderUtils.isProgressPlaceholderExpression === 'function' && placeholderUtils.isProgressPlaceholderExpression(expression)) {
-        return placeholderUtils.renderProgressPlaceholder(item, expression);
+      var resolved = placeholderUtils.resolvePlaceholderExpression(expressionItem, resolvedExpression);
+      if (typeof placeholderUtils.isProgressPlaceholderExpression === 'function' && placeholderUtils.isProgressPlaceholderExpression(resolvedExpression)) {
+        return placeholderUtils.renderProgressPlaceholder(expressionItem, resolvedExpression);
       }
-      if (typeof placeholderUtils.isImagePlaceholderExpression === 'function' && placeholderUtils.isImagePlaceholderExpression(expression)) {
+      if (typeof placeholderUtils.isImagePlaceholderExpression === 'function' && placeholderUtils.isImagePlaceholderExpression(resolvedExpression)) {
         var imageSource = placeholderUtils.formatPlaceholderValue(resolved);
         if (!/^(?:https?:\/\/|\/media\/|\/assets\/|\/[^/])/i.test(imageSource)) {
           return '';
         }
-        var imageConfig = typeof placeholderUtils.getImagePlaceholderConfig === 'function' ? placeholderUtils.getImagePlaceholderConfig(expression) : {};
+        var imageConfig = typeof placeholderUtils.getImagePlaceholderConfig === 'function' ? placeholderUtils.getImagePlaceholderConfig(resolvedExpression) : {};
         var imageStyle = options && options.preview && imageConfig.width && imageConfig.height
           ? 'display:block;width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:contain;'
           : 'display:block;width:auto;height:auto;' + (imageConfig.width ? 'max-width:' + imageConfig.width + 'px;' : '') + (imageConfig.height ? 'max-height:' + imageConfig.height + 'px;' : '');
@@ -99,13 +106,14 @@
         var hasPreviewBounds = options && options.preview && imageConfig.width && imageConfig.height;
         if (hasPreviewBounds || imageConfig.verticalAlign) {
           var wrapperStyle = 'display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;';
+          var wrapperClass = hasPreviewBounds ? ' class="api-image-placeholder-bounds"' : '';
           if (hasPreviewBounds) {
             wrapperStyle += 'box-sizing:border-box;width:' + imageConfig.width + 'px;height:' + imageConfig.height + 'px;border:1px dashed rgba(120,120,120,.75);';
           }
           if (imageConfig.verticalAlign) {
             wrapperStyle += 'vertical-align:' + imageConfig.verticalAlign + ';';
           }
-          return '<span style="' + wrapperStyle + '">' + image + '</span>';
+          return '<span' + wrapperClass + ' style="' + wrapperStyle + '">' + image + '</span>';
         }
         return image;
       }
@@ -113,8 +121,8 @@
     });
   }
 
-  function getItem(sourceId, itemNumber, sources, itemsPathOverride) {
-    var items = getItems(sourceId, sources, itemsPathOverride);
+  function getItem(sourceId, itemNumber, sources, itemsPathOverride, sortBy, sortDirection) {
+    var items = getItems(sourceId, sources, itemsPathOverride, sortBy, sortDirection);
     var parsedItemNumber = Math.max(1, Number(itemNumber || 1));
     var index = Number.isFinite(parsedItemNumber) && parsedItemNumber > 0 ? parsedItemNumber - 1 : 0;
     return items[index] || null;
@@ -149,8 +157,8 @@
           '<h2 class="offcanvas-title fs-5" id="' + offcanvasId + '-label">API placeholder transforms</h2>' +
           '<button type="button" class="btn-close" data-bs-dismiss="offcanvas" aria-label="Close"></button>' +
         '</div>' +
-        '<div class="offcanvas-body">' +
-          '<p class="small text-body-secondary">Placeholders read values from the selected API item. Nested fields use dots.</p>' +
+          '<div class="offcanvas-body">' +
+            '<p class="small text-body-secondary">Use placeholders such as <code>{{name}}</code> for the selected result, or <code>{{0.name}}</code> and <code>{{1.name}}</code> to read sorted results by index. Indices start at 0. Nested fields use dots.</p>' +
           (window.placeholderInfo ? window.placeholderInfo.renderTextTransforms() : '') +
           (window.placeholderInfo ? window.placeholderInfo.renderMathTransforms() : '') +
           (window.placeholderInfo ? window.placeholderInfo.renderDateFormatTokens() : '') +
@@ -189,14 +197,15 @@
     var sourceId = regionContent && regionContent.source_id !== undefined ? regionContent.source_id : config.source_id;
     var itemNumber = regionContent && regionContent.item_number !== undefined ? regionContent.item_number : config.item_number;
     var itemsPath = regionContent && regionContent.items_path !== undefined ? regionContent.items_path : (config.items_path !== undefined ? config.items_path : config.default_items_path);
-    var itemCount = getItemCount(sourceId, sources, itemsPath);
-    var itemNumberMax = Math.max(1, Number(itemCount || 1));
     var fontFamily = sanitizeFontFamily(regionContent.font_family || region.fontFamily);
     var fontSize = sanitizeFontSize(regionContent.font_size || region.fontSize);
     var fontColor = sanitizeTextColor(regionContent.font_color || region.fontColor);
-    var item = getItem(sourceId, itemNumber, sources, itemsPath);
+    var items = getItems(sourceId, sources, itemsPath, regionContent.sort_by, regionContent.sort_direction);
+    var parsedItemNumber = Math.max(1, Number(itemNumber || 1));
+    var itemIndex = Number.isFinite(parsedItemNumber) && parsedItemNumber > 0 ? parsedItemNumber - 1 : 0;
+    var item = items[itemIndex] || null;
     var hasSource = String(sourceId === undefined || sourceId === null ? '' : sourceId).trim() !== '';
-    var body = hasSource ? (item ? substituteVariables(content, item, { preview: true }) : '') : content;
+    var body = hasSource ? (item || items.length ? substituteVariables(content, item, { preview: true }, items) : '') : content;
 
     body = String(body || '')
       .replace(/<pre[^>]*class="[^"]*api-region-sample-preview[^"]*"[^>]*>[\s\S]*?<\/pre>/gi, '')
@@ -239,17 +248,13 @@
             '<textarea class="editor-source" rows="10">' + escapeHtml(current.value !== undefined ? current.value : '') + '</textarea>' +
           '</div>' +
           '<div class="row g-3 align-items-end">' +
-            '<div class="col-12 col-lg-5">' +
+            '<div class="col-12 col-lg-4">' +
               '<label class="form-label" for="region_api_source_id_' + region.id + '">API source</label>' +
               '<select id="region_api_source_id_' + region.id + '" name="region_api_source_id_' + region.id + '" class="form-select">' +
                 '<option value="">Select a source</option>' +
                 sourceOptions +
               '</select>' +
             '</div>' +
-            '<div class="col-6 col-lg-2">' +
-              '<label class="form-label" for="region_api_item_number_' + region.id + '">Item number</label>' +
-              '<input id="region_api_item_number_' + region.id + '" type="number" min="1" step="1" name="region_api_item_number_' + region.id + '" class="form-control" value="' + escapeHtml(config.item_number) + '" />' +
-            '</div>' +
             '<div class="col-12 col-lg-5">' +
               '<label class="form-label" for="region_api_items_path_' + region.id + '">Items path override</label>' +
               '<div class="input-group flex-nowrap">' +
@@ -257,17 +262,36 @@
                 '<button type="button" class="btn btn-outline-secondary text-nowrap" data-api-items-path-reset data-api-default-items-path="' + escapeHtml(config.default_items_path || '') + '">Reset</button>' +
               '</div>' +
             '</div>' +
+            '<div class="col-12 col-lg-3 d-flex align-items-end">' +
+              '<button type="button" class="btn btn-outline-secondary w-100" data-api-advanced-toggle aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="api-region-advanced-' + region.id + '"><i class="bi bi-sliders me-2" aria-hidden="true"></i>Advanced options</button>' +
+            '</div>' +
+          '</div>' +
+          '<div id="api-region-advanced-' + region.id + '" class="row g-3 align-items-end api-region-advanced-options" data-api-advanced-options hidden>' +
+            '<div class="col-12 col-md-4">' +
+              '<label class="form-label" for="region_api_sort_mode_' + region.id + '">Order results</label>' +
+              '<select id="region_api_sort_mode_' + region.id + '" name="region_api_sort_mode_' + region.id + '" class="form-select"><option value="original"' + (config.sort_by ? '' : ' selected') + '>API order</option><option value="field"' + (config.sort_by ? ' selected' : '') + '>Sort by field</option></select>' +
+            '</div>' +
+            '<div class="col-12 col-md-5" data-api-sort-field-wrap' + (config.sort_by ? '' : ' hidden') + '>' +
+              '<label class="form-label" for="region_api_sort_by_' + region.id + '">Sort field</label>' +
+              '<input id="region_api_sort_by_' + region.id + '" type="text" name="region_api_sort_by_' + region.id + '" class="form-control" value="' + escapeHtml(config.sort_by || '') + '" placeholder="Enter a field path" />' +
+            '</div>' +
+            '<div class="col-12 col-md-3" data-api-sort-direction-wrap' + (config.sort_by ? '' : ' hidden') + '>' +
+              '<label class="form-label" for="region_api_sort_direction_' + region.id + '">Direction</label>' +
+              '<select id="region_api_sort_direction_' + region.id + '" name="region_api_sort_direction_' + region.id + '" class="form-select"><option value="asc"' + (config.sort_direction === 'asc' ? ' selected' : '') + '>Ascending</option><option value="desc"' + (config.sort_direction !== 'asc' ? ' selected' : '') + '>Descending</option></select>' +
+            '</div>' +
           '</div>' +
           '<input type="hidden" name="region_font_size_' + region.id + '" value="' + escapeHtml(context.fontSize || '') + '" />' +
           '<input type="hidden" name="region_text_' + region.id + '" value="' + escapeHtml(current.value !== undefined ? current.value : '') + '" />' +
           '<div class="api-region-placeholder-section">' +
-            '<div class="api-region-placeholder-title api-region-placeholder-title-help d-flex align-items-center gap-2">Available placeholders ' + renderTransformInfo(region.id) + '</div>' +
+            '<div class="api-region-placeholder-title api-region-placeholder-title-help d-flex align-items-center gap-2">Available fields ' + renderTransformInfo(region.id) + '</div>' +
             '<div class="d-flex flex-wrap gap-2" data-placeholder-chips>' + ((placeholderFields.length && window.placeholderChips && typeof window.placeholderChips.renderChips === 'function') ? window.placeholderChips.renderChips(placeholderFields) : placeholderChips || '<span class="muted slide-image-file">No JSON fields available.</span>') + '</div>' +
           '</div>' +
-          '<details class="api-region-sample-accordion" data-api-sample-data-accordion>' +
-            '<summary>Data</summary>' +
-            '<div class="api-region-sample-body" data-api-sample-data-panel>' + sampleDataPreview + '</div>' +
-          '</details>' +
+          '<div class="api-region-sample-accordion" data-api-sample-data-accordion>' +
+            '<div class="api-region-sample-header">' +
+              '<button type="button" class="btn btn-outline-primary api-region-sample-toggle" data-api-sample-toggle aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="api-region-sample-panel-' + region.id + '"><span><i class="bi bi-eye me-2" aria-hidden="true"></i>View results</span><i class="bi bi-chevron-down api-region-sample-chevron" aria-hidden="true"></i></button>' +
+            '</div>' +
+            '<div id="api-region-sample-panel-' + region.id + '" class="api-region-sample-body" data-api-sample-data-panel hidden>' + sampleDataPreview + '</div>' +
+          '</div>' +
         '</div>' +
       '</div>';
   }
@@ -314,7 +338,9 @@
       }())),
       source_id: card.querySelector('select[name="region_api_source_id_' + region.id + '"]') ? card.querySelector('select[name="region_api_source_id_' + region.id + '"]').value : current.source_id,
       item_number: (card.querySelector('input[name="region_api_item_number_' + region.id + '"]') || {}).value || current.item_number,
-      items_path: card.querySelector('input[name="region_api_items_path_' + region.id + '"]') ? (card.querySelector('input[name="region_api_items_path_' + region.id + '"]') || {}).value : current.items_path
+      items_path: card.querySelector('input[name="region_api_items_path_' + region.id + '"]') ? (card.querySelector('input[name="region_api_items_path_' + region.id + '"]') || {}).value : current.items_path,
+      sort_by: card.querySelector('select[name="region_api_sort_mode_' + region.id + '"]') && card.querySelector('select[name="region_api_sort_mode_' + region.id + '"]').value === 'field' ? (card.querySelector('input[name="region_api_sort_by_' + region.id + '"]') || {}).value || '' : '',
+      sort_direction: (card.querySelector('select[name="region_api_sort_direction_' + region.id + '"]') || {}).value || current.sort_direction
     } : current;
 
     return {
@@ -322,6 +348,8 @@
       source_id: content.source_id,
       item_number: content.item_number,
       items_path: content.items_path,
+      sort_by: content.sort_by,
+      sort_direction: content.sort_direction,
       existingContent: existingContent || {},
       sources: Array.isArray(sources) ? sources : []
     };
diff --git a/src/web/public/js/shared/placeholder-utils.js b/src/web/public/js/shared/placeholder-utils.js
index cec4586..e0e47f9 100644
--- a/src/web/public/js/shared/placeholder-utils.js
+++ b/src/web/public/js/shared/placeholder-utils.js
@@ -67,6 +67,44 @@
     return value && typeof value === 'object' ? [value] : [];
   }
 
+  function sortApiItems(items, sortBy, direction) {
+    var path = String(sortBy || '').trim().replace(/\[([0-9]+)\]/g, '.$1');
+    if (!Array.isArray(items)) {
+      return [];
+    }
+    if (!path) {
+      return items.slice();
+    }
+
+    var descending = String(direction || '').toLowerCase() === 'desc';
+    function valueFor(item) {
+      return resolvePath(item, path);
+    }
+    function isMissing(value) {
+      return value === undefined || value === null || value === '';
+    }
+    function compare(left, right) {
+      if (isMissing(left)) return isMissing(right) ? 0 : 1;
+      if (isMissing(right)) return -1;
+      var leftNumber = typeof left === 'number' ? left : (typeof left === 'string' && left.trim() !== '' ? Number(left) : NaN);
+      var rightNumber = typeof right === 'number' ? right : (typeof right === 'string' && right.trim() !== '' ? Number(right) : NaN);
+      if (Number.isFinite(leftNumber) && Number.isFinite(rightNumber)) {
+        return leftNumber < rightNumber ? -1 : leftNumber > rightNumber ? 1 : 0;
+      }
+      return String(left).localeCompare(String(right), undefined, { numeric: true, sensitivity: 'base' });
+    }
+
+    return items.map(function (item, index) {
+      return { item: item, index: index, value: valueFor(item) };
+    }).sort(function (left, right) {
+      var result = compare(left.value, right.value);
+      if (result && descending && !isMissing(left.value) && !isMissing(right.value)) return -result;
+      return result || left.index - right.index;
+    }).map(function (entry) {
+      return entry.item;
+    });
+  }
+
   function parsePlaceholderExpression(expression) {
     var raw = String(expression || '').trim();
     var segments = raw ? splitExpressionSegments(raw) : [];
@@ -604,6 +642,7 @@
   return {
     resolvePath: resolvePath,
     resolveApiItems: resolveApiItems,
+    sortApiItems: sortApiItems,
     parsePlaceholderExpression: parsePlaceholderExpression,
     resolvePlaceholderExpression: resolvePlaceholderExpression,
     isImagePlaceholderExpression: isImagePlaceholderExpression,
diff --git a/src/web/public/js/slides/slide-form-regions.js b/src/web/public/js/slides/slide-form-regions.js
index 7f17123..710330e 100644
--- a/src/web/public/js/slides/slide-form-regions.js
+++ b/src/web/public/js/slides/slide-form-regions.js
@@ -178,18 +178,39 @@ export function createSlideFormRegionHelpers(options) {
     return text.slice(0, limit).replace(/\s+$/, '') + '\n...';
   }
 
-  function buildApiSampleDataMarkup(sourceId, itemNumber, itemsPathOverride) {
+  function buildApiSampleDataMarkup(sourceId, itemsPathOverride, sortBy, sortDirection) {
     var source = getApiSourceById(sourceId);
     if (!source) {
       return '<div class="api-region-sample-meta">Select an API source to preview sample data.</div>';
     }
 
-    var item = getApiSourceItems(sourceId, itemsPathOverride)[Math.max(0, Math.max(1, Number(itemNumber || 1)) - 1)] || null;
-    if (!item) {
+    var items = getApiSourceItems(sourceId, itemsPathOverride, sortBy, sortDirection);
+    if (!items.length) {
       return '<div class="api-region-sample-meta">No sample item is available for the current selection.</div>';
     }
 
-    return '<pre class="api-region-sample-preview" data-api-sample-data-output>' + escapeHtml(truncateJsonPreview(item, 1100)) + '</pre>';
+    var firstItemJson = '';
+    try {
+      firstItemJson = JSON.stringify(items[0], null, 2);
+    } catch (_error) {
+      firstItemJson = String(items[0] === undefined || items[0] === null ? '' : items[0]);
+    }
+    var label = apiItemsPathIsArray(source, itemsPathOverride) ? 'Example result (first item)' : 'Example result';
+    var jsonSource = JSON.stringify(firstItemJson).replace(/</g, '\\u003c').replace(/>/g, '\\u003e').replace(/&/g, '\\u0026');
+    return '' +
+      '<div class="api-region-sample-example">' +
+        '<div class="d-flex align-items-center justify-content-between flex-wrap gap-2 mb-1">' +
+          '<div class="api-region-sample-meta">' + label + '</div>' +
+          '<div class="btn-group btn-group-sm" role="group" aria-label="Example JSON controls">' +
+            '<button type="button" class="btn btn-outline-secondary" data-json-toggle-collapse-all><i class="bi bi-arrows-collapse me-1" aria-hidden="true"></i>Collapse all</button>' +
+            '<button type="button" class="btn btn-outline-secondary" data-json-toggle-expand-all><i class="bi bi-arrows-expand me-1" aria-hidden="true"></i>Expand all</button>' +
+          '</div>' +
+        '</div>' +
+        '<div data-json-toggle-panel>' +
+          '<script type="application/json" data-json-toggle-source>' + jsonSource + '</script>' +
+          '<div class="api-region-sample-preview font-monospace" data-json-toggle-output data-api-sample-data-output>' + escapeHtml(firstItemJson) + '</div>' +
+        '</div>' +
+      '</div>';
   }
 
   function updatePlaceholderChipList(card, fieldList, emptyLabel) {
@@ -356,25 +377,31 @@ export function createSlideFormRegionHelpers(options) {
     return String(overridePath || '').trim();
   }
 
-  function getApiSourceItems(sourceId, itemsPathOverride) {
+  function getApiSourceItems(sourceId, itemsPathOverride, sortBy, sortDirection) {
     var source = getApiSourceById(sourceId);
     var module = getRegionTypeModule('api');
     if (module && typeof module.getItems === 'function') {
-      return module.getItems(sourceId, apiSources, itemsPathOverride);
+      return module.getItems(sourceId, apiSources, itemsPathOverride, sortBy, sortDirection);
     }
 
     var responseJson = source && source.responseJson && typeof source.responseJson === 'object' ? source.responseJson : null;
     var itemsPath = getApiSourceItemsPath(source, itemsPathOverride);
-    return window.placeholderUtils.resolveApiItems(responseJson, itemsPath);
+    var items = window.placeholderUtils.resolveApiItems(responseJson, itemsPath);
+    return typeof window.placeholderUtils.sortApiItems === 'function' ? window.placeholderUtils.sortApiItems(items, sortBy, sortDirection) : items;
   }
 
-  function getApiItemCount(sourceId, itemsPathOverride) {
-    var module = getRegionTypeModule('api');
-    if (module && typeof module.getItemCount === 'function') {
-      return module.getItemCount(sourceId, apiSources, itemsPathOverride);
+  function apiItemsPathIsArray(source, itemsPathOverride) {
+    var response = source && source.responseJson;
+    var itemsPath = getApiSourceItemsPath(source, itemsPathOverride);
+    if (itemsPath) {
+      return Array.isArray(window.placeholderUtils.resolvePath(response, itemsPath));
     }
-
-    return getApiSourceItems(sourceId, itemsPathOverride).length;
+    if (Array.isArray(response)) {
+      return true;
+    }
+    return Boolean(response && ['items', 'results', 'data'].some(function (key) {
+      return Array.isArray(response[key]);
+    }));
   }
 
   function getApiFieldList(sourceId, itemsPathOverride) {
@@ -399,7 +426,18 @@ export function createSlideFormRegionHelpers(options) {
     container.innerHTML = buildLimitedPlaceholderChipMarkup(getApiFieldList(sourceId, itemsPathOverride), 'No JSON fields available.', false);
   }
 
-  function updateApiSampleDataPanel(regionId, sourceId, itemNumber, itemsPathOverride) {
+  function updateApiItemsPathReset(regionId, sourceId) {
+    var card = templateFields ? templateFields.querySelector('[data-region-id="' + regionId + '"]') : null;
+    var button = card ? card.querySelector('[data-api-items-path-reset]') : null;
+    if (!button) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    var source = getApiSourceById(sourceId);
+    button.dataset.apiDefaultItemsPath = String(source && (source.items_path || source.itemsPath) || '').trim();
+  }
+
+  function updateApiSampleDataPanel(regionId, sourceId, itemsPathOverride, sortBy, sortDirection) {
     var card = templateFields ? templateFields.querySelector('[data-region-id="' + regionId + '"]') : null;
     if (!card) {
       return;
@@ -410,44 +448,10 @@ export function createSlideFormRegionHelpers(options) {
       return;
     }
 
-    container.innerHTML = buildApiSampleDataMarkup(sourceId, itemNumber, itemsPathOverride);
-  }
-
-  function updateApiItemNumberLimit(regionId, sourceId, itemsPathOverride) {
-    var card = templateFields ? templateFields.querySelector('[data-region-id="' + regionId + '"]') : null;
-    if (!card) {
-      return;
+    container.innerHTML = buildApiSampleDataMarkup(sourceId, itemsPathOverride, sortBy, sortDirection);
+    if (typeof window.initJsonTogglePanels === 'function') {
+      window.initJsonTogglePanels(container);
     }
-
-    var input = card.querySelector('input[name="region_api_item_number_' + regionId + '"]');
-    if (!input) {
-      return;
-    }
-
-    var itemCount = Math.max(1, Number(getApiItemCount(sourceId, itemsPathOverride) || 1));
-    input.setAttribute('max', String(itemCount));
-    if (Number(input.value || 0) > itemCount) {
-      input.value = String(itemCount);
-    }
-  }
-
-  function clampApiItemNumber(regionId, sourceId, itemNumber, itemsPathOverride) {
-    var card = templateFields ? templateFields.querySelector('[data-region-id="' + regionId + '"]') : null;
-    if (!card) {
-      return '';
-    }
-
-    var input = card.querySelector('input[name="region_api_item_number_' + regionId + '"]');
-    if (!input) {
-      return '';
-    }
-
-    var itemCount = Math.max(1, Number(getApiItemCount(sourceId, itemsPathOverride) || 1));
-    var parsedValue = Math.max(1, Number(itemNumber || 1));
-    var clampedValue = Math.min(itemCount, Number.isFinite(parsedValue) && parsedValue > 0 ? parsedValue : 1);
-    input.setAttribute('max', String(itemCount));
-    input.value = String(clampedValue);
-    return String(clampedValue);
   }
 
   function getCurrentApiConfig(region) {
@@ -546,7 +550,7 @@ export function createSlideFormRegionHelpers(options) {
           : region.region_type === 'rss'
             ? getRssFieldList(getCurrentRssConfig(region).feed_id)
             : [],
-        sampleDataPreview: buildApiSampleDataMarkup(getCurrentApiConfig(region).source_id, getCurrentApiConfig(region).item_number, getCurrentApiConfig(region).items_path),
+        sampleDataPreview: buildApiSampleDataMarkup(getCurrentApiConfig(region).source_id, getCurrentApiConfig(region).items_path, getCurrentApiConfig(region).sort_by, getCurrentApiConfig(region).sort_direction),
         timetableGroups: timetableGroups,
         weatherLocations: weatherLocations,
         mediaAssets: mediaAssets
@@ -589,7 +593,7 @@ export function createSlideFormRegionHelpers(options) {
         : region.region_type === 'rss'
           ? getRssFieldList(rssConfig.feed_id)
           : [],
-      sampleDataPreview: buildApiSampleDataMarkup(apiConfig.source_id, apiConfig.item_number, apiItemsPath),
+      sampleDataPreview: buildApiSampleDataMarkup(apiConfig.source_id, apiItemsPath, apiConfig.sort_by, apiConfig.sort_direction),
       timetableGroups: timetableGroups,
       weatherLocations: weatherLocations,
       mediaAssets: mediaAssets
@@ -754,7 +758,6 @@ export function createSlideFormRegionHelpers(options) {
     var rssFeedInput = card.querySelector('select[name="region_rss_feed_id_' + region.id + '"]');
     var rssItemInput = card.querySelector('input[name="region_rss_item_number_' + region.id + '"]');
     var apiSourceInput = card.querySelector('select[name="region_api_source_id_' + region.id + '"]');
-    var apiItemInput = card.querySelector('input[name="region_api_item_number_' + region.id + '"]');
     var apiItemsPathInput = card.querySelector('input[name="region_api_items_path_' + region.id + '"]');
 
     if (region.region_type === 'image') {
@@ -779,8 +782,12 @@ export function createSlideFormRegionHelpers(options) {
     } else if (region.region_type === 'api') {
       content.value = hiddenInput ? hiddenInput.value : (content.value || '');
       content.source_id = apiSourceInput ? apiSourceInput.value : content.source_id;
-      content.item_number = apiItemInput ? apiItemInput.value : content.item_number;
       content.items_path = apiItemsPathInput ? apiItemsPathInput.value : content.items_path;
+      var apiSortModeInput = card.querySelector('select[name="region_api_sort_mode_' + region.id + '"]');
+      var apiSortByInput = card.querySelector('input[name="region_api_sort_by_' + region.id + '"]');
+      var apiSortDirectionInput = card.querySelector('select[name="region_api_sort_direction_' + region.id + '"]');
+      content.sort_by = apiSortModeInput && apiSortModeInput.value === 'field' && apiSortByInput ? apiSortByInput.value : '';
+      content.sort_direction = apiSortDirectionInput ? apiSortDirectionInput.value : content.sort_direction;
     } else if (region.region_type === 'timetable') {
       var timetableGroupInput = card.querySelector('select[name="region_timetable_group_id_' + region.id + '"]');
       var timetableDisplayModeInput = card.querySelector('select[name="region_timetable_display_mode_' + region.id + '"]');
@@ -835,9 +842,10 @@ export function createSlideFormRegionHelpers(options) {
     updateRssPlaceholderChips: updateRssPlaceholderChips,
     getCurrentRssConfig: getCurrentRssConfig,
     getApiFieldList: getApiFieldList,
+    buildApiSampleDataMarkup: buildApiSampleDataMarkup,
     updateApiPlaceholderChips: updateApiPlaceholderChips,
+    updateApiItemsPathReset: updateApiItemsPathReset,
     updateApiSampleDataPanel: updateApiSampleDataPanel,
-    updateApiItemNumberLimit: updateApiItemNumberLimit,
     updateRssItemNumberLimit: updateRssItemNumberLimit,
     getCurrentApiConfig: getCurrentApiConfig,
     reduceAspectRatio: reduceAspectRatio,
diff --git a/src/web/public/js/slides/slide-form.js b/src/web/public/js/slides/slide-form.js
index 6568578..7ec5ddc 100644
--- a/src/web/public/js/slides/slide-form.js
+++ b/src/web/public/js/slides/slide-form.js
@@ -748,8 +748,8 @@ import { createSlideAnimationEditor } from '/assets/js/slides/slide-animation-ed
   var getCurrentRssConfig = slideRegionHelpers.getCurrentRssConfig;
   var getApiFieldList = slideRegionHelpers.getApiFieldList;
   var updateApiPlaceholderChips = slideRegionHelpers.updateApiPlaceholderChips;
+  var updateApiItemsPathReset = slideRegionHelpers.updateApiItemsPathReset;
   var updateApiSampleDataPanel = slideRegionHelpers.updateApiSampleDataPanel;
-  var updateApiItemNumberLimit = slideRegionHelpers.updateApiItemNumberLimit;
   var getCurrentApiConfig = slideRegionHelpers.getCurrentApiConfig;
   var updateRssItemNumberLimit = slideRegionHelpers.updateRssItemNumberLimit;
 
@@ -768,6 +768,9 @@ import { createSlideAnimationEditor } from '/assets/js/slides/slide-animation-ed
     templateFields.innerHTML = template.regions.length ? template.regions.map(function (region) {
       return getRegionEditorCardHtml(region) || '<div class="muted">Region editor unavailable.</div>';
     }).join('') : '<div class="muted">This template has no regions.</div>';
+    if (typeof window.initJsonTogglePanels === 'function') {
+      window.initJsonTogglePanels(templateFields);
+    }
 
     if (window.adminlte && typeof window.adminlte.CardWidget === 'function') {
       templateFields.querySelectorAll('.card-widget[data-region-id]').forEach(function (card) {
@@ -787,14 +790,6 @@ import { createSlideAnimationEditor } from '/assets/js/slides/slide-animation-ed
     window.requestAnimationFrame(function () {
       bindRegionCards();
     });
-    templateFields.querySelectorAll('input[name^="region_api_item_number_"]').forEach(function (input) {
-      var regionId = input.name.replace(/^region_api_item_number_/, '');
-      var sourceInput = templateFields.querySelector('select[name="region_api_source_id_' + regionId + '"]');
-      var pathInput = templateFields.querySelector('input[name="region_api_items_path_' + regionId + '"]');
-      if (sourceInput) {
-        updateApiItemNumberLimit(regionId, sourceInput.value, pathInput ? pathInput.value : '');
-      }
-    });
     templateFields.querySelectorAll('input[name^="region_rss_item_number_"]').forEach(function (input) {
       var regionId = input.name.replace(/^region_rss_item_number_/, '');
       var feedInput = templateFields.querySelector('select[name="region_rss_feed_id_' + regionId + '"]');
@@ -852,39 +847,59 @@ import { createSlideAnimationEditor } from '/assets/js/slides/slide-animation-ed
         }
       });
     }
-    templateFields.querySelectorAll('select[name^="region_rss_feed_id_"], input[name^="region_rss_item_number_"], select[name^="region_api_source_id_"], input[name^="region_api_item_number_"], input[name^="region_api_items_path_"]').forEach(function (input) {
+    templateFields.querySelectorAll('select[name^="region_rss_feed_id_"], input[name^="region_rss_item_number_"], select[name^="region_api_source_id_"], input[name^="region_api_items_path_"], select[name^="region_api_sort_mode_"], input[name^="region_api_sort_by_"], select[name^="region_api_sort_direction_"]').forEach(function (input) {
       input.addEventListener('input', function () {
-        var regionId = input.name.replace(/^region_(?:rss_feed_id|rss_item_number|api_source_id|api_item_number|api_items_path)_/, '');
+        var regionId = input.name.replace(/^region_(?:rss_feed_id|rss_item_number|api_source_id|api_items_path|api_sort_mode|api_sort_by|api_sort_direction)_/, '');
         if (input.name.indexOf('region_rss_') === 0) {
           var rssFeed = input.name.indexOf('region_rss_feed_id_') === 0 ? input.value : (templateFields.querySelector('select[name="region_rss_feed_id_' + regionId + '"]') || {}).value;
           updateRssPlaceholderChips(regionId, rssFeed);
           updateRssItemNumberLimit(regionId, rssFeed);
         }
         if (input.name.indexOf('region_api_') === 0) {
+          var apiSortMode = templateFields.querySelector('select[name="region_api_sort_mode_' + regionId + '"]');
+          var apiSortByInput = templateFields.querySelector('input[name="region_api_sort_by_' + regionId + '"]');
+          var apiSortFieldWrap = apiSortByInput && apiSortByInput.closest('[data-api-sort-field-wrap]');
+          var apiSortDirection = templateFields.querySelector('select[name="region_api_sort_direction_' + regionId + '"]');
+          var apiSortDirectionWrap = apiSortDirection && apiSortDirection.closest('[data-api-sort-direction-wrap]');
+          var apiSortEnabled = apiSortMode && apiSortMode.value === 'field';
+          if (apiSortFieldWrap) apiSortFieldWrap.hidden = !apiSortEnabled;
+          if (apiSortDirectionWrap) apiSortDirectionWrap.hidden = !apiSortEnabled;
+          if (apiSortMode && !apiSortEnabled && apiSortByInput) apiSortByInput.value = '';
           var apiSource = input.name.indexOf('region_api_source_id_') === 0 ? input.value : (templateFields.querySelector('select[name="region_api_source_id_' + regionId + '"]') || {}).value;
-          var apiItemNumber = input.name.indexOf('region_api_item_number_') === 0 ? input.value : (templateFields.querySelector('input[name="region_api_item_number_' + regionId + '"]') || {}).value;
           var apiItemsPath = input.name.indexOf('region_api_items_path_') === 0 ? input.value : (templateFields.querySelector('input[name="region_api_items_path_' + regionId + '"]') || {}).value;
-          updateApiItemNumberLimit(regionId, apiSource, apiItemsPath);
+          var apiSortBy = apiSortEnabled && apiSortByInput ? apiSortByInput.value : '';
+          var apiSortDirectionValue = apiSortDirection ? apiSortDirection.value : 'asc';
+          updateApiItemsPathReset(regionId, apiSource);
           updateApiPlaceholderChips(regionId, apiSource, apiItemsPath);
-          updateApiSampleDataPanel(regionId, apiSource, apiItemNumber, apiItemsPath);
+          updateApiSampleDataPanel(regionId, apiSource, apiItemsPath, apiSortBy, apiSortDirectionValue);
         }
         templateSelectorLock.markEdited();
         requestPreviewRender();
       });
       input.addEventListener('change', function () {
-        var regionId = input.name.replace(/^region_(?:rss_feed_id|rss_item_number|api_source_id|api_item_number|api_items_path)_/, '');
+        var regionId = input.name.replace(/^region_(?:rss_feed_id|rss_item_number|api_source_id|api_items_path|api_sort_mode|api_sort_by|api_sort_direction)_/, '');
         if (input.name.indexOf('region_rss_') === 0) {
           var rssFeed = input.name.indexOf('region_rss_feed_id_') === 0 ? input.value : (templateFields.querySelector('select[name="region_rss_feed_id_' + regionId + '"]') || {}).value;
           updateRssPlaceholderChips(regionId, rssFeed);
           updateRssItemNumberLimit(regionId, rssFeed);
         }
         if (input.name.indexOf('region_api_') === 0) {
+          var apiSortMode = templateFields.querySelector('select[name="region_api_sort_mode_' + regionId + '"]');
+          var apiSortByInput = templateFields.querySelector('input[name="region_api_sort_by_' + regionId + '"]');
+          var apiSortFieldWrap = apiSortByInput && apiSortByInput.closest('[data-api-sort-field-wrap]');
+          var apiSortDirection = templateFields.querySelector('select[name="region_api_sort_direction_' + regionId + '"]');
+          var apiSortDirectionWrap = apiSortDirection && apiSortDirection.closest('[data-api-sort-direction-wrap]');
+          var apiSortEnabled = apiSortMode && apiSortMode.value === 'field';
+          if (apiSortFieldWrap) apiSortFieldWrap.hidden = !apiSortEnabled;
+          if (apiSortDirectionWrap) apiSortDirectionWrap.hidden = !apiSortEnabled;
+          if (apiSortMode && !apiSortEnabled && apiSortByInput) apiSortByInput.value = '';
           var apiSource = input.name.indexOf('region_api_source_id_') === 0 ? input.value : (templateFields.querySelector('select[name="region_api_source_id_' + regionId + '"]') || {}).value;
-          var apiItemNumber = input.name.indexOf('region_api_item_number_') === 0 ? input.value : (templateFields.querySelector('input[name="region_api_item_number_' + regionId + '"]') || {}).value;
           var apiItemsPath = input.name.indexOf('region_api_items_path_') === 0 ? input.value : (templateFields.querySelector('input[name="region_api_items_path_' + regionId + '"]') || {}).value;
-          updateApiItemNumberLimit(regionId, apiSource, apiItemsPath);
+          var apiSortBy = apiSortEnabled && apiSortByInput ? apiSortByInput.value : '';
+          var apiSortDirectionValue = apiSortDirection ? apiSortDirection.value : 'asc';
+          updateApiItemsPathReset(regionId, apiSource);
           updateApiPlaceholderChips(regionId, apiSource, apiItemsPath);
-          updateApiSampleDataPanel(regionId, apiSource, apiItemNumber, apiItemsPath);
+          updateApiSampleDataPanel(regionId, apiSource, apiItemsPath, apiSortBy, apiSortDirectionValue);
         }
         templateSelectorLock.markEdited();
         requestPreviewRender();
@@ -989,6 +1004,30 @@ import { createSlideAnimationEditor } from '/assets/js/slides/slide-animation-ed
     requestPreviewRender();
   });
   templateFields.addEventListener('click', function (event) {
+    var advancedToggle = event.target && typeof event.target.closest === 'function' ? event.target.closest('[data-api-advanced-toggle]') : null;
+    if (advancedToggle) {
+      var advancedPanel = templateFields.querySelector('#' + advancedToggle.getAttribute('aria-controls'));
+      if (advancedPanel) {
+        var isExpanded = advancedToggle.getAttribute('aria-expanded') === 'true';
+        advancedToggle.setAttribute('aria-expanded', isExpanded ? 'false' : 'true');
+        advancedPanel.hidden = isExpanded;
+        advancedToggle.classList.toggle('btn-outline-secondary', isExpanded);
+        advancedToggle.classList.toggle('btn-secondary', !isExpanded);
+      }
+      return;
+    }
+    var sampleToggle = event.target && typeof event.target.closest === 'function' ? event.target.closest('[data-api-sample-toggle]') : null;
+    if (sampleToggle) {
+      var sampleAccordion = sampleToggle.closest('[data-api-sample-data-accordion]');
+      var samplePanel = sampleAccordion && sampleAccordion.querySelector('[data-api-sample-data-panel]');
+      if (sampleAccordion && samplePanel) {
+        var isExpanded = sampleToggle.getAttribute('aria-expanded') === 'true';
+        sampleToggle.setAttribute('aria-expanded', isExpanded ? 'false' : 'true');
+        sampleAccordion.classList.toggle('is-open', !isExpanded);
+        samplePanel.hidden = isExpanded;
+      }
+      return;
+    }
     var button = event.target && typeof event.target.closest === 'function' ? event.target.closest('[data-api-items-path-reset]') : null;
     var webpageUpdateButton = event.target && typeof event.target.closest === 'function' ? event.target.closest('[data-webpage-preview-update]') : null;
     if (!button) {
diff --git a/src/web/routes/data-sources/api-sources/form-view-model.js b/src/web/routes/data-sources/api-sources/form-view-model.js
index a0cb99e..77515c1 100644
--- a/src/web/routes/data-sources/api-sources/form-view-model.js
+++ b/src/web/routes/data-sources/api-sources/form-view-model.js
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ function buildApiSourceFormViewModel(apiSource, message, currentUser, options, i
     showSaveSecondaryActions: true,
     deleteDisabled: !isEdit || Boolean(viewApiSource.inUse),
     formAction: isEdit && viewApiSource.id ? '/data-sources/api-sources/' + viewApiSource.id : '/data-sources/api-sources',
-    formAttrs: 'data-async-save data-async-save-close-url="/data-sources/api-sources" data-async-save-new-url="/data-sources/api-sources/new"',
+    formAttrs: 'data-async-save data-async-save-close-url="/data-sources/api-sources" data-async-save-new-url="/data-sources/api-sources/new"' + (isEdit ? '' : ' data-async-save-new-redirect="response-url"'),
     cancelUrl: '/data-sources/api-sources',
     deleteUrl: isEdit && viewApiSource.id ? '/data-sources/api-sources/' + viewApiSource.id + '/delete' : ''
   };
diff --git a/src/web/views/signage/slides/popup-preview.hbs b/src/web/views/signage/slides/popup-preview.hbs
index dd73b7d..5c1f7e8 100644
--- a/src/web/views/signage/slides/popup-preview.hbs
+++ b/src/web/views/signage/slides/popup-preview.hbs
@@ -44,6 +44,10 @@
     background: transparent;
   }
 
+  #popup-preview-canvas .api-image-placeholder-bounds {
+    border: 0 !important;
+  }
+
   #popup-preview-canvas .template-region.chart,
   #popup-preview-canvas .slide-preview-chart-region {
     background: transparent !important;
diff --git a/test/api-region-sort.test.js b/test/api-region-sort.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6754a9e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/api-region-sort.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,274 @@
+const test = require('node:test');
+const assert = require('node:assert/strict');
+const fs = require('node:fs');
+const path = require('node:path');
+const vm = require('node:vm');
+const { buildSlidePayload } = require('../src/data/slides');
+
+function loadApiRenderer(apiSources) {
+  let renderer;
+  const window = {
+    placeholderUtils: {},
+    pulsePlayerRegionTypes: {
+      register: function (_type, module) {
+        renderer = module;
+      }
+    },
+    pulsePlayerRenderingShared: {
+      normalizeRegionValue: function (value) {
+        return String(value || '');
+      }
+    }
+  };
+  const context = {
+    window,
+    initialData: { apiSources: apiSources },
+    escapeHtml: String,
+    sanitizeFontFamily: String,
+    sanitizeFontSize: function (value) { return Number(value) || 16; },
+    sanitizeTextColor: String,
+    sanitizeRichText: String,
+    renderEditorJsContent: String
+  };
+  vm.runInNewContext(fs.readFileSync(path.join(__dirname, '../src/web/public/js/shared/placeholder-utils.js'), 'utf8'), context);
+  vm.runInNewContext(fs.readFileSync(path.join(__dirname, '../src/player/regions/api.js'), 'utf8'), context);
+  return renderer;
+}
+
+function loadApiEditor() {
+  let editor;
+  const window = {
+    pulseRegionTypes: {
+      register: function (_type, module) {
+        editor = module;
+      }
+    },
+    pulseRegionUtils: {
+      escapeHtml: String,
+      sanitizePreviewHtml: String,
+      sanitizeFontFamily: String,
+      sanitizeTextColor: String
+    }
+  };
+  const context = { window };
+  vm.runInNewContext(fs.readFileSync(path.join(__dirname, '../src/web/public/js/shared/placeholder-utils.js'), 'utf8'), context);
+  vm.runInNewContext(fs.readFileSync(path.join(__dirname, '../src/web/public/js/regions/type/api.js'), 'utf8'), context);
+  return editor;
+}
+
+test('API region sort settings persist in slide content', async () => {
+  const pool = {
+    async query(sql) {
+      if (sql.includes('FROM c_templates st')) {
+        return [[{ id: 8, name: 'Template 8', canvas_size_id: 1, canvas_size_width: 1920, canvas_size_height: 1080 }]];
+      }
+      if (sql.includes('FROM c_template_regions')) {
+        return [[{ id: 23, template_id: 8, region_key: 'apiRegion', region_type: 'api', label: 'API' }]];
+      }
+      return [[]];
+    }
+  };
+
+  const payload = await buildSlidePayload(pool, {
+    body: {
+      title: 'API Slide',
+      template_id: '8',
+      region_api_source_id_23: '11',
+      region_api_items_path_23: 'results',
+      region_api_sort_mode_23: 'field',
+      region_api_sort_by_23: 'stats.kills',
+      region_api_sort_direction_23: 'desc',
+      region_text_23: '{{name}}'
+    },
+    files: []
+  }, null);
+
+  const content = JSON.parse(payload.contentJson).apiRegion;
+  assert.equal(content.sort_by, 'stats.kills');
+  assert.equal(content.sort_direction, 'desc');
+  assert.equal(content.items_path, 'results');
+  assert.equal(content.item_number, 1);
+});
+
+test('API field sorting defaults to ascending', async () => {
+  const pool = {
+    async query(sql) {
+      if (sql.includes('FROM c_templates st')) {
+        return [[{ id: 8, name: 'Template 8', canvas_size_id: 1, canvas_size_width: 1920, canvas_size_height: 1080 }]];
+      }
+      if (sql.includes('FROM c_template_regions')) {
+        return [[{ id: 23, template_id: 8, region_key: 'apiRegion', region_type: 'api', label: 'API' }]];
+      }
+      return [[]];
+    }
+  };
+
+  const payload = await buildSlidePayload(pool, {
+    body: {
+      title: 'API Slide',
+      template_id: '8',
+      region_api_source_id_23: '11',
+      region_api_sort_mode_23: 'field',
+      region_api_sort_by_23: 'stats.kills',
+      region_text_23: '{{name}}'
+    },
+    files: []
+  }, null);
+
+  assert.equal(JSON.parse(payload.contentJson).apiRegion.sort_direction, 'asc');
+});
+
+test('player API region selects the requested item after sorting', () => {
+  const renderer = loadApiRenderer([{
+    id: 11,
+    responseJson: {
+      results: [
+        { name: 'Ari', stats: { kills: 8 } },
+        { name: 'Bea', stats: { kills: 12 } },
+        { name: 'Cam', stats: { kills: 4 } }
+      ]
+    }
+  }]);
+  const rendered = renderer.renderRegion({ pixelWidth: 400, pixelHeight: 100, canvasScale: 1, baseStyle: '' }, {
+    type: 'api',
+    source_id: 11,
+    item_number: 2,
+    items_path: 'results',
+    sort_by: 'stats.kills',
+    sort_direction: 'desc',
+    value: '{{0.name}} / {{1.name}} / {{name}}'
+  });
+
+  assert.match(rendered, /Bea \/ Ari \/ Ari/);
+  assert.doesNotMatch(rendered, /Cam/);
+});
+
+test('API editor preview resolves zero-based indexed placeholders from sorted results', () => {
+  const editor = loadApiEditor();
+  const preview = editor.renderPreview({ id: 23, region_key: 'apiRegion', fontFamily: 'Arial', fontSize: 20, fontColor: '#000000' }, {
+    source_id: 11,
+    item_number: 2,
+    items_path: 'results',
+    sort_by: 'stats.kills',
+    sort_direction: 'desc',
+    value: '{{0.name}} / {{1.name}} / {{name}}'
+  }, {
+    sources: [{
+      id: 11,
+      responseJson: {
+        results: [
+          { name: 'Ari', stats: { kills: 8 } },
+          { name: 'Bea', stats: { kills: 12 } },
+          { name: 'Cam', stats: { kills: 4 } }
+        ]
+      }
+    }],
+    existingContent: {}
+  });
+
+  assert.match(preview, /Bea \/ Ari \/ Ari/);
+  assert.doesNotMatch(preview, /Cam/);
+});
+
+test('API image bounds guide is limited to the small preview and hidden in the popup', () => {
+  const editor = loadApiEditor();
+  const preview = editor.renderPreview({ id: 23, region_key: 'apiRegion', fontFamily: 'Arial', fontSize: 20, fontColor: '#000000' }, {
+    source_id: 11,
+    items_path: 'results',
+    value: '{{image.image(120,80)}}'
+  }, {
+    sources: [{ id: 11, responseJson: { results: [{ image: 'https://example.com/image.png' }] } }],
+    existingContent: {}
+  });
+  const popupStyles = fs.readFileSync(path.join(__dirname, '../src/web/views/signage/slides/popup-preview.hbs'), 'utf8');
+
+  assert.match(preview, /class="api-image-placeholder-bounds"/);
+  assert.match(preview, /border:1px dashed/);
+  assert.match(popupStyles, /#popup-preview-canvas \.api-image-placeholder-bounds\s*\{\s*border:\s*0 !important;/);
+});
+
+test('API region plain placeholders work with a single object response', () => {
+  const renderer = loadApiRenderer([{
+    id: 11,
+    responseJson: { name: 'Pikachu', type: 'Electric' }
+  }]);
+  const rendered = renderer.renderRegion({ pixelWidth: 400, pixelHeight: 100, canvasScale: 1, baseStyle: '' }, {
+    type: 'api',
+    source_id: 11,
+    value: '{{name}} - {{type}}'
+  });
+
+  assert.match(rendered, /Pikachu - Electric/);
+});
+
+test('API region results panel exposes its open control without resize buttons', () => {
+  const editor = loadApiEditor();
+  const markup = editor.renderEditorCard({
+    region: { id: 23 },
+    current: { value: '{{name}}' },
+    config: { source_id: 11, item_number: 1, items_path: '', sort_by: '', sort_direction: 'asc', default_items_path: '' },
+    sourceOptions: '',
+    placeholderFields: [],
+    placeholderChips: '',
+    sampleDataPreview: '[]',
+    fontSize: 32
+  });
+
+  assert.match(markup, /data-api-sample-toggle[^>]*aria-expanded="false"/);
+  assert.doesNotMatch(markup, /data-api-sample-resize/);
+  assert.match(markup, /data-api-sample-data-panel hidden/);
+  assert.match(markup, /btn-outline-secondary w-100" data-api-advanced-toggle aria-expanded="false"/);
+  assert.match(markup, /data-api-advanced-options hidden/);
+  assert.match(markup, />Order results</);
+
+  const expandedMarkup = editor.renderEditorCard({
+    region: { id: 24 },
+    current: { value: '{{name}}' },
+    config: { source_id: 11, item_number: 1, items_path: '', sort_by: 'stats.kills', sort_direction: 'desc', default_items_path: '' },
+    sourceOptions: '',
+    placeholderFields: [],
+    placeholderChips: '',
+    sampleDataPreview: '[]',
+    fontSize: 32
+  });
+  assert.match(expandedMarkup, /btn-outline-secondary w-100" data-api-advanced-toggle aria-expanded="false"/);
+  assert.match(expandedMarkup, /id="api-region-advanced-24"[^>]*hidden/);
+  assert.match(expandedMarkup, /name="region_api_sort_by_24"[^>]*value="stats\.kills"/);
+});
+
+test('API results preview always includes the first result completely', () => {
+  let source = fs.readFileSync(path.join(__dirname, '../src/web/public/js/slides/slide-form-regions.js'), 'utf8');
+  source = source.replace("import { createSlideFormPreviewHelpers } from '/assets/js/slides/slide-form-preview.js';", '').replace('export function createSlideFormRegionHelpers', 'function createSlideFormRegionHelpers');
+  const context = {
+    window: {
+      placeholderUtils: require('../src/web/public/js/shared/placeholder-utils'),
+      placeholderChips: { renderChip: function (value) { return String(value); } }
+    },
+    createSlideFormPreviewHelpers: function () { return {}; }
+  };
+  vm.runInNewContext(source + '\nthis.createSlideFormRegionHelpers = createSlideFormRegionHelpers;', context);
+  const longDescription = 'x'.repeat(1500);
+  const helpers = context.createSlideFormRegionHelpers({
+    apiSources: [
+      { id: 11, responseJson: { results: [{ name: 'Long result', products: [{ description: longDescription }] }, { name: 'Second result' }] } },
+      { id: 12, responseJson: { name: 'Single object' } }
+    ],
+    getRegionTypeModule: function () { return null; }
+  });
+
+  const markup = helpers.buildApiSampleDataMarkup(11, 'results', '', 'asc');
+  const firstItemMarkup = markup.match(/data-api-sample-data-output>([\s\S]*?)<\/div>/);
+  assert.ok(firstItemMarkup);
+  assert.ok(firstItemMarkup[1].includes(longDescription));
+  assert.match(firstItemMarkup[1], /\}\s*$/);
+  assert.equal((markup.match(/class="api-region-sample-preview(?:\s|\")/g) || []).length, 1);
+  assert.match(markup, /Example result \(first item\)/);
+  assert.match(markup, /data-json-toggle-collapse-all/);
+  assert.match(markup, /data-json-toggle-expand-all/);
+  assert.match(markup, /data-json-toggle-panel/);
+  assert.doesNotMatch(markup, /Second result|Remaining results/);
+
+  const objectMarkup = helpers.buildApiSampleDataMarkup(12, '', '', 'asc');
+  assert.match(objectMarkup, /Example result</);
+  assert.doesNotMatch(objectMarkup, /first item/);
+});
diff --git a/test/api-source-request.test.js b/test/api-source-request.test.js
index fe991e1..b3b89aa 100644
--- a/test/api-source-request.test.js
+++ b/test/api-source-request.test.js
@@ -217,6 +217,8 @@ test('API source add and edit forms render connection diagnostics with the corre
   assert.match(edit, /<p>Manage shared authentication, request URLs, and latest responses\.<\/p>/);
   assert.match(add, /data-api-source-test-url="\/data-sources\/api-sources\/test"/);
   assert.match(edit, /data-api-source-test-url="\/data-sources\/api-sources\/42\/test"/);
+  assert.match(add, /data-async-save-new-redirect="response-url"/);
+  assert.doesNotMatch(edit, /data-async-save-new-redirect|data-async-save-refresh-page/);
   for (const html of [add, edit]) {
     assert.match(html, /<form id="api-source-form" method="post" action="[^"]+" data-async-save/);
     assert.match(html, /data-api-source-diagnostics hidden/);
diff --git a/test/player-render-helpers.test.js b/test/player-render-helpers.test.js
index 12db5c2..ac1d867 100644
--- a/test/player-render-helpers.test.js
+++ b/test/player-render-helpers.test.js
@@ -218,6 +218,20 @@ test('shared API item selection treats object paths as one item and preserves ar
   assert.equal(JSON.stringify(sandbox.window.placeholderUtils.resolveApiItems(response, 'data')), JSON.stringify([campaign]));
 });
 
+test('shared API item sorting supports nested numeric and text fields with stable ties and missing values last', () => {
+  const helpers = require('../src/web/public/js/shared/placeholder-utils');
+  const rows = [
+    { name: 'First', stats: { kills: 8 } },
+    { name: 'Second', stats: { kills: 12 } },
+    { name: 'Third', stats: { kills: 12 } },
+    { name: 'Missing' }
+  ];
+  assert.deepEqual(helpers.sortApiItems(rows, 'stats.kills', 'desc').map((item) => item.name), ['Second', 'Third', 'First', 'Missing']);
+  assert.deepEqual(helpers.sortApiItems(rows, 'name', 'asc').map((item) => item.name), ['First', 'Missing', 'Second', 'Third']);
+  assert.deepEqual(helpers.sortApiItems(rows, '', 'desc'), rows);
+  assert.deepEqual(helpers.sortApiItems(rows, 'stats.kills', 'asc').map((item) => item.name), ['First', 'Second', 'Third', 'Missing']);
+});
+
 test('API editor and player resolve object paths, root overrides, and numeric placeholders consistently', () => {
   let editor;
   const campaign = { name: 'Campaign', amount_raised: { value: '200' }, goal: { value: '1000' } };