Release 2.8.3

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -2,6 +2,18 @@
 
 All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 
+## 2.8.3 - 2026-08-17
+
+### Added
+
+- Added API, RSS, Timetable, and Time / Date placeholder help panels with shared transform and date-token documentation.
+- Added render-time API and RSS image placeholders with proportional sizing and preview-only bounding boxes.
+
+### Changed
+
+- API and RSS regions now preserve authored content when no data source is selected and remain blank when a selected source has no authored content.
+- Normal WYSIWYG image insertion remains upload-backed and separate from image placeholder transforms.
+
 ## 2.8.2 - 2026-08-16
 
 ### Changed

build/package.player.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "pulse-signage-player",
-  "version": "2.8.2",
+  "version": "2.8.3",
   "private": false,
   "description": "Pulse Signage player application bundle",
   "engines": {

build/package.web.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "pulse-signage-web",
-  "version": "2.8.2",
+  "version": "2.8.3",
   "private": false,
   "description": "Pulse Signage web and bridge application bundle",
   "engines": {

package-lock.json

@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "pulse-signage",
-  "version": "2.8.2",
+  "version": "2.8.3",
   "lockfileVersion": 3,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "pulse-signage",
-      "version": "2.8.2",
+      "version": "2.8.3",
       "dependencies": {
         "@sparticuz/chromium": "^149.0.0",
         "animate.css": "^4.1.1",

package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "pulse-signage",
-  "version": "2.8.2",
+  "version": "2.8.3",
   "private": false,
   "description": "Pulse Signage application with MySQL and media storage",
   "engines": {

src/data/slides.js

@@ -418,7 +418,7 @@ async function buildTemplateContent(pool, template, body, filesByField, existing
       content[region.region_key] = {
         type: 'rss',
         value: stripEditorOnlyMarkup(normalizeEditorMarkup(submitted === undefined ? String(current.value || '') : String(submitted || ''))),
-        feed_id: feedId === undefined || feedId === null || feedId === '' ? (current.feed_id || null) : Number(feedId),
+        feed_id: feedId === undefined || feedId === null ? (current.feed_id || null) : (feedId === '' ? null : Number(feedId)),
         item_number: Math.min(itemCount, Number.isFinite(parsedItemNumber) && parsedItemNumber > 0 ? parsedItemNumber : 1),
         variable_name: 'item',
         font_family: style.font_family,
@@ -436,7 +436,7 @@ async function buildTemplateContent(pool, template, body, filesByField, existing
       content[region.region_key] = {
         type: 'api',
         value: stripEditorOnlyMarkup(normalizeEditorMarkup(submitted === undefined ? String(current.value || '') : String(submitted || ''))),
-        source_id: sourceId === undefined || sourceId === null || sourceId === '' ? (current.source_id || null) : Number(sourceId),
+        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(),
         variable_name: 'item',

src/player/regions/api.js

@@ -67,7 +67,23 @@ function substituteApiVariables(html, item) {
       return '';
     }
 
-    return escapeHtml(placeholderUtils.formatPlaceholderValue(placeholderUtils.resolvePlaceholderExpression(item, expression)));
+    var resolved = placeholderUtils.resolvePlaceholderExpression(item, expression);
+    if (typeof placeholderUtils.isImagePlaceholderExpression === 'function' && placeholderUtils.isImagePlaceholderExpression(expression)) {
+      var imageSource = placeholderUtils.formatPlaceholderValue(resolved);
+      if (!/^(?:https?:\/\/|\/media\/|\/assets\/|\/[^/])/i.test(imageSource)) {
+        return '';
+      }
+      var imageConfig = typeof placeholderUtils.getImagePlaceholderConfig === 'function' ? placeholderUtils.getImagePlaceholderConfig(expression) : {};
+      var hasImageBounds = imageConfig.width && imageConfig.height;
+      var imageStyle = hasImageBounds
+        ? '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;' : '');
+      var image = '<img src="' + escapeHtml(imageSource) + '" alt="" style="' + imageStyle + '" />';
+      return hasImageBounds
+        ? '<span style="display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;box-sizing:border-box;width:' + imageConfig.width + 'px;height:' + imageConfig.height + 'px;">' + image + '</span>'
+        : image;
+    }
+    return escapeHtml(placeholderUtils.formatPlaceholderValue(resolved));
   });
 }
 
@@ -120,10 +136,8 @@ function renderApiRegion(region, regionContent) {
   var fontSize = sanitizeFontSize(regionContent.font_size || region.fontSize);
   var fontColor = sanitizeTextColor(regionContent.font_color || region.fontColor);
   var item = getApiItem(sourceId, itemNumber, itemsPath);
-  var body = item ? substituteApiVariables(content, item) : '';
-  if (!body && item) {
-    body = getApiPreviewFallback(item);
-  }
+  var hasSource = String(sourceId === undefined || sourceId === null ? '' : sourceId).trim() !== '';
+  var body = hasSource ? (item ? substituteApiVariables(content, item) : '') : 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 '';

src/player/regions/rss.js

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 // RSS region helpers for resolving feeds, items, and nested values.
 
 var registry = window.pulsePlayerRegionTypes;
+var placeholderUtils = window.placeholderUtils || {};
 
 function getDefaultStyle() {
   return {
@@ -65,12 +66,30 @@ function resolveRssPath(value, path) {
 
 function substituteRssVariables(html, item) {
   var source = String(html || '');
-  return source.replace(/\{\{\s*([a-zA-Z0-9_]+)(?:\.([a-zA-Z0-9_.]+))?\s*\}\}/g, function (_match, tokenName, tokenPath) {
+  return source.replace(/\{\{\s*([^{}]+?)\s*\}\}/g, function (_match, expression) {
     if (!item || typeof item !== 'object') {
       return '';
     }
-    var key = tokenPath ? tokenName + '.' + tokenPath : tokenName;
-    return escapeHtml(resolveRssPath(item, key || ''));
+    if (typeof placeholderUtils.resolvePlaceholderExpression !== 'function' || typeof placeholderUtils.formatPlaceholderValue !== 'function') {
+      return '';
+    }
+    var resolved = placeholderUtils.resolvePlaceholderExpression(item, expression);
+    if (typeof placeholderUtils.isImagePlaceholderExpression === 'function' && placeholderUtils.isImagePlaceholderExpression(expression)) {
+      var imageSource = placeholderUtils.formatPlaceholderValue(resolved);
+      if (!/^(?:https?:\/\/|\/media\/|\/assets\/|\/[^/])/i.test(imageSource)) {
+        return '';
+      }
+      var imageConfig = typeof placeholderUtils.getImagePlaceholderConfig === 'function' ? placeholderUtils.getImagePlaceholderConfig(expression) : {};
+      var hasImageBounds = imageConfig.width && imageConfig.height;
+      var imageStyle = hasImageBounds
+        ? '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;' : '');
+      var image = '<img src="' + escapeHtml(imageSource) + '" alt="" style="' + imageStyle + '" />';
+      return hasImageBounds
+        ? '<span style="display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;box-sizing:border-box;width:' + imageConfig.width + 'px;height:' + imageConfig.height + 'px;">' + image + '</span>'
+        : image;
+    }
+    return escapeHtml(placeholderUtils.formatPlaceholderValue(resolved));
   });
 }
 
@@ -83,17 +102,8 @@ function renderRssRegion(region, regionContent) {
   var fontSize = sanitizeFontSize(regionContent.font_size || region.fontSize || defaultStyle.font_size);
   var fontColor = sanitizeTextColor(regionContent.font_color || region.fontColor || defaultStyle.font_color);
   var item = getRssFeedItem(feedId, itemNumber);
-  var body = item ? substituteRssVariables(content, item) : '';
-  if (!body && item) {
-    var summaryParts = [];
-    if (item.title) {
-      summaryParts.push('<h3>' + escapeHtml(item.title) + '</h3>');
-    }
-    if (item.description) {
-      summaryParts.push('<div>' + sanitizeRichText(item.description) + '</div>');
-    }
-    body = summaryParts.join('');
-  }
+  var hasFeed = String(feedId === undefined || feedId === null ? '' : feedId).trim() !== '';
+  var body = hasFeed ? (item ? substituteRssVariables(content, item) : '') : 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 '';

src/web/lib/region-scripts.js

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ const path = require('path');
 const PUBLIC_JS_ROOT = path.join(__dirname, '..', 'public', 'js');
 const REGION_ROOT_DIR = path.join(PUBLIC_JS_ROOT, 'regions');
 const REGION_TYPE_DIR = path.join(REGION_ROOT_DIR, 'type');
-const REGION_CORE_SCRIPTS = ['js/shared/placeholder-utils.js', 'js/shared/placeholder-chips.js', 'js/shared/time-date-placeholders.js', 'js/regions/region-utils.js', 'js/regions/region-types.js'];
+const REGION_CORE_SCRIPTS = ['js/shared/placeholder-utils.js', 'js/shared/placeholder-chips.js', 'js/shared/placeholder-info.js', 'js/shared/time-date-placeholders.js', 'js/regions/region-utils.js', 'js/regions/region-types.js'];
 
 function withAssetVersion(scriptPath, assetVersion) {
   if (!assetVersion) {

src/web/public/css/theme-custom.css

@@ -2533,6 +2533,13 @@ html[data-bs-theme='dark'] .template-field-card .tox .tox-collection {
   text-transform: uppercase;
 }
 
+.api-region-placeholder-title-help {
+  font-size: 0.9rem;
+  font-weight: 800;
+  letter-spacing: normal;
+  text-transform: none;
+}
+
 .api-region-sample-accordion {
   padding: 0.85rem 1rem 1rem;
   margin-bottom: 0.75rem;

src/web/public/js/regions/type/api.js

@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@
     };
   }
 
-  function substituteVariables(html, item) {
+  function substituteVariables(html, item, options) {
     var source = String(html || '');
     return source.replace(/\{\{\s*([^{}]+?)\s*\}\}/g, function (_match, expression) {
       if (!item || typeof item !== 'object') {
@@ -105,7 +105,23 @@
         return '';
       }
 
-      return escapeHtml(placeholderUtils.formatPlaceholderValue(placeholderUtils.resolvePlaceholderExpression(item, expression)));
+      var resolved = placeholderUtils.resolvePlaceholderExpression(item, expression);
+      if (typeof placeholderUtils.isImagePlaceholderExpression === 'function' && placeholderUtils.isImagePlaceholderExpression(expression)) {
+        var imageSource = placeholderUtils.formatPlaceholderValue(resolved);
+        if (!/^(?:https?:\/\/|\/media\/|\/assets\/|\/[^/])/i.test(imageSource)) {
+          return '';
+        }
+        var imageConfig = typeof placeholderUtils.getImagePlaceholderConfig === 'function' ? placeholderUtils.getImagePlaceholderConfig(expression) : {};
+        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;' : '');
+        var image = '<img src="' + escapeHtml(imageSource) + '" alt="" style="' + imageStyle + '" />';
+        if (options && options.preview && imageConfig.width && imageConfig.height) {
+          return '<span style="display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;box-sizing:border-box;width:' + imageConfig.width + 'px;height:' + imageConfig.height + 'px;border:1px dashed rgba(120,120,120,.75);">' + image + '</span>';
+        }
+        return image;
+      }
+      return escapeHtml(placeholderUtils.formatPlaceholderValue(resolved));
     });
   }
 
@@ -136,6 +152,24 @@
     return summary.join('');
   }
 
+  function renderTransformInfo(regionId) {
+    var offcanvasId = 'api-placeholder-info-' + regionId;
+    return '' +
+      '<button type="button" class="btn btn-link btn-sm p-0 text-decoration-none" data-bs-toggle="offcanvas" data-bs-target="#' + offcanvasId + '" aria-controls="' + offcanvasId + '">More info</button>' +
+      '<div class="offcanvas offcanvas-end fw-normal" tabindex="-1" id="' + offcanvasId + '" aria-labelledby="' + offcanvasId + '-label">' +
+        '<div class="offcanvas-header">' +
+          '<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>' +
+          (window.placeholderInfo ? window.placeholderInfo.renderTextTransforms() : '') +
+          (window.placeholderInfo ? window.placeholderInfo.renderDateFormatTokens() : '') +
+          (window.placeholderInfo ? window.placeholderInfo.renderImageTransform() : '') +
+        '</div>' +
+      '</div>';
+  }
+
   function normalizeRenderableValue(value) {
     if (value && typeof value === 'object') {
       if (value.value !== undefined) {
@@ -170,11 +204,8 @@
     var fontSize = sanitizeFontSize(regionContent.font_size || region.fontSize);
     var fontColor = sanitizeTextColor(regionContent.font_color || region.fontColor);
     var item = getItem(sourceId, itemNumber, sources, itemsPath);
-    var body = item ? substituteVariables(content, item) : '';
-
-    if (!body && item) {
-      body = getPreviewFallback(item);
-    }
+    var hasSource = String(sourceId === undefined || sourceId === null ? '' : sourceId).trim() !== '';
+    var body = hasSource ? (item ? substituteVariables(content, item, { preview: true }) : '') : content;
 
     body = String(body || '')
       .replace(/<pre[^>]*class="[^"]*api-region-sample-preview[^"]*"[^>]*>[\s\S]*?<\/pre>/gi, '')
@@ -239,7 +270,7 @@
           '<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">Available placeholders</div>' +
+            '<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="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>' +
@@ -290,7 +321,7 @@
           return fallbackValue;
         }
       }())),
-      source_id: (card.querySelector('select[name="region_api_source_id_' + region.id + '"]') || {}).value || current.source_id,
+      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
     } : current;

src/web/public/js/regions/type/rss.js

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 (function () {
   var registry = window.pulseRegionTypes;
   var utils = window.pulseRegionUtils || {};
+  var placeholderUtils = window.placeholderUtils || {};
   var DEFAULT_STYLE = {
     font_family: 'Arial',
     font_size: 32,
@@ -114,14 +115,32 @@
     return current === undefined || current === null ? '' : current;
   }
 
-  function substituteVariables(html, item) {
+  function substituteVariables(html, item, options) {
     var source = String(html || '');
-    return source.replace(/\{\{\s*([a-zA-Z0-9_]+)(?:\.([a-zA-Z0-9_.]+))?\s*\}\}/g, function (_match, tokenName, tokenPath) {
+    return source.replace(/\{\{\s*([^{}]+?)\s*\}\}/g, function (_match, expression) {
       if (!item || typeof item !== 'object') {
         return '';
       }
-      var key = tokenPath ? tokenName + '.' + tokenPath : tokenName;
-      return escapeHtml(resolvePath(item, key || ''));
+      if (typeof placeholderUtils.resolvePlaceholderExpression !== 'function' || typeof placeholderUtils.formatPlaceholderValue !== 'function') {
+        return '';
+      }
+      var resolved = placeholderUtils.resolvePlaceholderExpression(item, expression);
+      if (typeof placeholderUtils.isImagePlaceholderExpression === 'function' && placeholderUtils.isImagePlaceholderExpression(expression)) {
+        var imageSource = placeholderUtils.formatPlaceholderValue(resolved);
+        if (!/^(?:https?:\/\/|\/media\/|\/assets\/|\/[^/])/i.test(imageSource)) {
+          return '';
+        }
+        var imageConfig = typeof placeholderUtils.getImagePlaceholderConfig === 'function' ? placeholderUtils.getImagePlaceholderConfig(expression) : {};
+        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;' : '');
+        var image = '<img src="' + escapeHtml(imageSource) + '" alt="" style="' + imageStyle + '" />';
+        if (options && options.preview && imageConfig.width && imageConfig.height) {
+          return '<span style="display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;box-sizing:border-box;width:' + imageConfig.width + 'px;height:' + imageConfig.height + 'px;border:1px dashed rgba(120,120,120,.75);">' + image + '</span>';
+        }
+        return image;
+      }
+      return escapeHtml(placeholderUtils.formatPlaceholderValue(resolved));
     });
   }
 
@@ -186,18 +205,8 @@
     var fontSize = sanitizeFontSize(regionContent.font_size || region.fontSize || defaultStyle.font_size);
     var fontColor = sanitizeTextColor(regionContent.font_color || region.fontColor || defaultStyle.font_color);
     var item = getItem(feedId, itemNumber, feeds);
-    var body = item ? substituteVariables(content, item) : '';
-
-    if (!body && item) {
-      var summaryParts = [];
-      if (item.title) {
-        summaryParts.push('<h3>' + escapeHtml(item.title) + '</h3>');
-      }
-      if (item.description) {
-        summaryParts.push('<div>' + sanitizePreviewHtml(item.description) + '</div>');
-      }
-      body = summaryParts.join('');
-    }
+    var hasFeed = String(feedId === undefined || feedId === null ? '' : feedId).trim() !== '';
+    var body = hasFeed ? (item ? substituteVariables(content, item, { preview: true }) : '') : content;
 
     if (!body) {
       return '';
@@ -206,6 +215,21 @@
     return renderedBody ? '<div class="template-region rss" style="width:100%;height:100%;overflow:hidden;font-family:' + escapeHtml(fontFamily) + ';font-size:' + fontSize + 'px;color:' + escapeHtml(fontColor) + ';"><div class="template-region-text-scale" style="width:100%;height:100%;overflow:hidden;">' + renderedBody + '</div></div>' : '';
   }
 
+  function renderPlaceholderInfo(regionId) {
+    if (!window.placeholderInfo) {
+      return '';
+    }
+    return window.placeholderInfo.render(regionId, 'RSS placeholder transforms',
+      '<p class="small text-body-secondary">Placeholders read values from the selected RSS entry. Use the available field chips as the starting point for your message.</p>' +
+      '<h3 class="fs-6 mt-4 fw-normal">Placeholder paths</h3>' +
+      '<p class="small">Nested values use dots. Missing values render as empty text.</p>' +
+      (window.placeholderInfo ? window.placeholderInfo.renderTextTransforms() : '') +
+      '<h3 class="fs-6 mt-4 fw-normal">Date formatting</h3>' +
+      '<p class="small">Use <code>format("MMM D, YYYY")</code> with date fields. Use <code>tz()</code> for a short timezone name and <code>tz_long()</code> for the full timezone name.</p>' +
+      (window.placeholderInfo ? window.placeholderInfo.renderDateFormatTokens() : '') +
+      (window.placeholderInfo ? window.placeholderInfo.renderImageTransform() : ''));
+  }
+
   function renderEditorCard(context) {
     var region = context.region;
     var current = context.current || {};
@@ -221,7 +245,7 @@
             '<span class="chip">RSS</span>' +
           '</div>' +
         '</div>' +
-        '<div class="card-body p-3 d-grid gap-3 pb-0">' +
+        '<div class="card-body p-3 d-grid gap-3">' +
           '<div class="d-flex justify-content-end">' +
             '<div class="btn-group btn-group-sm template-editor-size-controls" role="group" aria-label="Editor size controls">' +
               '<button type="button" class="btn btn-outline-secondary" data-editor-size-action="decrease" aria-label="Decrease editor size">-</button>' +
@@ -247,9 +271,8 @@
           '<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">Available placeholders</div>' +
+            '<div class="api-region-placeholder-title api-region-placeholder-title-help d-flex align-items-center gap-2">Available placeholders ' + renderPlaceholderInfo(region.id) + '</div>' +
             '<div class="d-flex flex-wrap gap-2" data-placeholder-chips>' + (placeholderChips || '<span class="muted slide-image-file">No RSS fields available.</span>') + '</div>' +
-            '<div class="text-body-secondary small mt-1">Placeholder values support transforms, for example <code>{{title.upper()}}</code>, <code>{{title.title()}}</code>, <code>{{title.lower()}}</code>, or <code>{{publishedAt.format("MMM D, YYYY")}}</code>.</div>' +
           '</div>' +
         '</div>' +
       '</div>';
@@ -291,7 +314,7 @@
           return fallbackValue;
         }
       }())),
-      feed_id: (card.querySelector('select[name="region_rss_feed_id_' + region.id + '"]') || {}).value || current.feed_id,
+      feed_id: card.querySelector('select[name="region_rss_feed_id_' + region.id + '"]') ? card.querySelector('select[name="region_rss_feed_id_' + region.id + '"]').value : current.feed_id,
       item_number: (card.querySelector('input[name="region_rss_item_number_' + region.id + '"]') || {}).value || current.item_number
     } : current;
 

src/web/public/js/regions/type/text.js

@@ -33,9 +33,9 @@
     }
 
     var style = styleOrContext && styleOrContext.style ? styleOrContext.style : styleOrContext || {};
-    var fontFamily = style && style.font_family ? 'font-family:' + escapeHtml(style.font_family) + ';' : '';
-    var color = style && style.font_color ? 'color:' + escapeHtml(style.font_color) + ';' : '';
-    var fontSize = style && style.font_size ? 'font-size:' + Math.max(1, Math.round(Number(style.font_size))) + 'px;' : '';
+    var fontFamily = 'font-family:' + escapeHtml(style && style.font_family || DEFAULT_STYLE.font_family) + ';';
+    var color = 'color:' + escapeHtml(style && style.font_color || DEFAULT_STYLE.font_color) + ';';
+    var fontSize = 'font-size:' + Math.max(1, Math.round(Number(style && style.font_size || DEFAULT_STYLE.font_size))) + 'px;';
     var width = Math.max(1, Math.round(Number(region && region.width ? region.width : 0) || 1));
     var height = Math.max(1, Math.round(Number(region && region.height ? region.height : 0) || 1));
     var wrapperStyle = 'width:' + width + 'px;height:' + height + 'px;overflow:hidden;line-height:1.5;' + fontFamily + fontSize + color;

src/web/public/js/regions/type/time-date.js

@@ -286,6 +286,19 @@
     return renderTimeDatePlaceholderChips();
   }
 
+  function renderPlaceholderInfo(regionId) {
+    if (!window.placeholderInfo) {
+      return '';
+    }
+    var placeholders = window.timeDatePlaceholders && typeof window.timeDatePlaceholders.getTokens === 'function'
+      ? window.timeDatePlaceholders.getTokens()
+      : [];
+    var table = '<div class="table-responsive"><table class="table table-sm align-middle mb-0"><thead><tr><th>Placeholder</th><th>Output</th><th>Description</th></tr></thead><tbody>' + placeholders.map(function (item) {
+      return '<tr><td><code>{{' + escapeHtml(item.token) + '}}</code></td><td>' + escapeHtml(item.output) + '</td><td>' + escapeHtml(item.description) + '</td></tr>';
+    }).join('') + '</tbody></table></div>';
+    return window.placeholderInfo.render(regionId, 'Time and date placeholders', table);
+  }
+
   function renderEditorCard(context) {
     var region = context.region;
     var current = context.current || {};
@@ -317,9 +330,8 @@
             '<datalist id="region_time_date_timezones_' + region.id + '">' + buildTimezoneOptionsMarkup(timeZone) + '</datalist>' +
           '</div>' +
           '<div>' +
-            '<div class="api-region-placeholder-title mb-2">Available placeholders</div>' +
+            '<div class="api-region-placeholder-title api-region-placeholder-title-help d-flex align-items-center gap-2 mb-2">Available placeholders ' + renderPlaceholderInfo(region.id) + '</div>' +
             '<div class="d-flex flex-wrap gap-2">' + renderPlaceholderChips() + '</div>' +
-            '<div class="text-body-secondary small mt-1">Placeholder values support transforms, for example <code>{{title.upper()}}</code>, <code>{{title.title()}}</code>, or <code>{{title.lower()}}</code>.</div>' +
           '</div>' +
         '</div>' +
       '</div>';

src/web/public/js/regions/type/timetable.js

@@ -240,6 +240,21 @@
     };
   }
 
+  function renderPlaceholderInfo(regionId) {
+    if (!window.placeholderInfo) {
+      return '';
+    }
+    var body = '<p class="small text-body-secondary">Placeholders read fields from the selected timetable entries. The selected group and display mode determine which entries and fields are available.</p>' +
+      '<h3 class="fs-6 mt-4 fw-normal">Placeholder paths</h3>' +
+      '<p class="small">Use the available field chips. Nested values use dots, and missing values render as empty text.</p>' +
+      window.placeholderInfo.renderTextTransforms() +
+      '<h3 class="fs-6 mt-4 fw-normal">Date and time formatting</h3>' +
+      '<p class="small">Use <code>format("MMM D, YYYY h:mm A")</code> with date fields. Use <code>tz()</code> for a short timezone name and <code>tz_long()</code> for the full timezone name.</p>' +
+      window.placeholderInfo.renderDateFormatTokens() +
+      '';
+    return window.placeholderInfo.render(regionId, 'Timetable placeholder transforms', body);
+  }
+
   function renderEditorCard(context) {
     var region = context.region;
     var current = context.current || {};
@@ -298,14 +313,8 @@
           '</div>' +
           '<div class="text-body-secondary small">Use the selected group and display mode to choose which timetable entry fields are available.</div>' +
           '<div class="api-region-placeholder-section schedule-placeholder-section" data-schedule-placeholder-chips>' +
-            '<div class="api-region-placeholder-title">Available placeholders</div>' +
+            '<div class="api-region-placeholder-title api-region-placeholder-title-help d-flex align-items-center gap-2">Available placeholders ' + renderPlaceholderInfo(region.id) + '</div>' +
             '<div class="d-flex flex-wrap gap-2">' + renderSchedulePlaceholderChips(currentGroup, currentEntries) + '</div>' +
-            '<div class="text-body-secondary small mt-1">Placeholder values support transforms, for example <code>{{title.upper()}}</code>, <code>{{title.title()}}</code>, <code>{{title.lower()}}</code>, <code>{{start.format("MMM D, YYYY h:mm A")}}</code>, <code>{{start.tz()}}</code> for the short zone name, or <code>{{start.tz_long()}}</code> for the full IANA zone name.</div>' +
-            '<details class="mt-2">' +
-              '<summary class="small text-body-secondary">Supported date format tokens</summary>' +
-              '<div class="mt-2">' + renderScheduleFormatTokenTable() + '</div>' +
-              '<div class="text-body-secondary small mt-1">Use these tokens inside <code>.format(...)</code>; for example <code>{{start.format("MMM D, YYYY h:mm A")}}</code>.</div>' +
-            '</details>' +
           '</div>' +
           '</div>' +
         '</div>' +

src/web/public/js/shared/placeholder-info.js

@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+// Shared offcanvas renderer for region placeholder documentation.
+
+(function () {
+  var root = window;
+
+  function escapeHtml(value) {
+    return String(value === undefined || value === null ? '' : value)
+      .replace(/&/g, '&')
+      .replace(/</g, '&lt;')
+      .replace(/>/g, '&gt;')
+      .replace(/"/g, '&quot;')
+      .replace(/'/g, '&#39;');
+  }
+
+  function render(regionId, title, body) {
+    var offcanvasId = String(regionId || 'region') + '-placeholder-info';
+    return '' +
+      '<button type="button" class="btn btn-link btn-sm p-0 text-decoration-none" data-bs-toggle="offcanvas" data-bs-target="#' + offcanvasId + '" aria-controls="' + offcanvasId + '">More info</button>' +
+      '<div class="offcanvas offcanvas-end fw-normal" tabindex="-1" id="' + offcanvasId + '" aria-labelledby="' + offcanvasId + '-label">' +
+        '<div class="offcanvas-header">' +
+          '<h2 class="offcanvas-title fs-5" id="' + offcanvasId + '-label">' + escapeHtml(title) + '</h2>' +
+          '<button type="button" class="btn-close" data-bs-dismiss="offcanvas" aria-label="Close"></button>' +
+        '</div>' +
+        '<div class="offcanvas-body">' + body + '</div>' +
+      '</div>';
+  }
+
+  function renderTextTransforms() {
+    return '<h3 class="fs-6 mt-4 fw-normal">Text transforms</h3>' +
+      '<dl class="small fw-normal">' +
+        '<dt class="fw-normal"><code>upper()</code></dt><dd>Converts text to uppercase.</dd>' +
+        '<dt class="fw-normal"><code>lower()</code></dt><dd>Converts text to lowercase.</dd>' +
+        '<dt class="fw-normal"><code>title()</code></dt><dd>Capitalizes each word.</dd>' +
+        '<dt class="fw-normal"><code>tz()</code></dt><dd>Returns the short timezone name for a date.</dd>' +
+        '<dt class="fw-normal"><code>tz_long()</code></dt><dd>Returns the full timezone name for a date.</dd>' +
+      '</dl>';
+  }
+
+  function renderDateFormatTokens() {
+    return '<h3 class="fs-6 mt-4 fw-normal">Date format tokens</h3>' +
+      '<p class="small">Use the <code>format("...")</code> transform with these tokens. Text inside square brackets is treated as a literal.</p>' +
+      '<div class="table-responsive small"><table class="table table-sm align-middle mb-0"><thead><tr><th>Token</th><th>Meaning</th><th>Example</th></tr></thead><tbody>' +
+        '<tr><td><code>YYYY</code></td><td>Four-digit year</td><td><code>2026</code></td></tr><tr><td><code>YY</code></td><td>Two-digit year</td><td><code>26</code></td></tr>' +
+        '<tr><td><code>MMMM</code></td><td>Full month name</td><td><code>August</code></td></tr><tr><td><code>MMM</code></td><td>Short month name</td><td><code>Aug</code></td></tr>' +
+        '<tr><td><code>MM</code></td><td>Two-digit month</td><td><code>08</code></td></tr><tr><td><code>M</code></td><td>Month number</td><td><code>8</code></td></tr>' +
+        '<tr><td><code>DD</code></td><td>Two-digit day</td><td><code>16</code></td></tr><tr><td><code>D</code></td><td>Day number</td><td><code>16</code></td></tr>' +
+        '<tr><td><code>dddd</code></td><td>Full weekday name</td><td><code>Sunday</code></td></tr><tr><td><code>ddd</code></td><td>Short weekday name</td><td><code>Sun</code></td></tr>' +
+        '<tr><td><code>HH</code> / <code>H</code></td><td>24-hour time</td><td><code>19</code> / <code>7</code></td></tr><tr><td><code>hh</code> / <code>h</code></td><td>12-hour time</td><td><code>07</code> / <code>7</code></td></tr>' +
+        '<tr><td><code>mm</code> / <code>m</code></td><td>Minutes</td><td><code>05</code> / <code>5</code></td></tr><tr><td><code>ss</code> / <code>s</code></td><td>Seconds</td><td><code>09</code> / <code>9</code></td></tr>' +
+        '<tr><td><code>A</code> / <code>a</code></td><td>AM or PM</td><td><code>PM</code> / <code>pm</code></td></tr>' +
+      '</tbody></table></div>';
+  }
+
+  function renderImageTransform() {
+    return '<h3 class="fs-6 mt-4 fw-normal">Image transform</h3>' +
+      '<p class="small">Use <code>image(width, height)</code> to render an image URL inside a proportional bounding box.</p>' +
+      '<ul class="small"><li>The preview shows the width and height boundary.</li><li>The player has no boundary.</li><li>The image keeps its original aspect ratio.</li><li>Both dimensions are required for a bounding box.</li></ul>';
+  }
+
+  root.placeholderInfo = {
+    escapeHtml: escapeHtml,
+    render: render,
+    renderTextTransforms: renderTextTransforms,
+    renderDateFormatTokens: renderDateFormatTokens,
+    renderImageTransform: renderImageTransform
+  };
+}());

src/web/public/js/shared/placeholder-utils.js

@@ -298,6 +298,27 @@
     return resolved;
   }
 
+  function isImagePlaceholderExpression(expression) {
+    var parsed = parsePlaceholderExpression(expression);
+    return parsed.transforms.some(function (transform) {
+      return transform && transform.name === 'image';
+    });
+  }
+
+  function getImagePlaceholderConfig(expression) {
+    var parsed = parsePlaceholderExpression(expression);
+    var imageTransform = parsed.transforms.find(function (transform) {
+      return transform && transform.name === 'image';
+    });
+    var args = imageTransform && Array.isArray(imageTransform.args) ? imageTransform.args : [];
+    var width = Number(args[0]);
+    var height = Number(args[1]);
+    return {
+      width: Number.isFinite(width) && width > 0 ? Math.round(width) : 0,
+      height: Number.isFinite(height) && height > 0 ? Math.round(height) : 0
+    };
+  }
+
   function formatPlaceholderValue(value) {
     if (value === undefined || value === null) {
       return '';
@@ -349,6 +370,8 @@
     resolvePath: resolvePath,
     parsePlaceholderExpression: parsePlaceholderExpression,
     resolvePlaceholderExpression: resolvePlaceholderExpression,
+    isImagePlaceholderExpression: isImagePlaceholderExpression,
+    getImagePlaceholderConfig: getImagePlaceholderConfig,
     formatPlaceholderValue: formatPlaceholderValue,
     collectPlaceholderFieldPaths: collectPlaceholderFieldPaths
   };

src/web/public/js/slides/slide-form-editor.js

@@ -44,10 +44,6 @@ export function createSlideFormEditorController(options) {
     return String(value || '');
   }
 
-  function normalizeEditorMarkup(value) {
-    return String(value === undefined || value === null ? '' : value).trim();
-  }
-
   function isEmptyRichTextValue(value) {
     var raw = String(value === undefined || value === null ? '' : value).trim();
     if (!raw) {
@@ -575,7 +571,7 @@ export function createSlideFormEditorController(options) {
       return Promise.resolve(null);
     }
 
-    source.value = normalizeEditorMarkup(normalizeEditorData(source && source.value !== undefined && source.value !== null ? source.value : (hidden ? hidden.value : '')));
+    source.value = normalizeEditorData(source && source.value !== undefined && source.value !== null ? source.value : (hidden ? hidden.value : ''));
 
     if (!source.id) {
       source.id = 'slide-editor-region-' + regionId;

src/web/public/js/slides/slide-form-preview.js

@@ -198,9 +198,9 @@ export function createSlideFormPreviewHelpers(options) {
       return module.renderPreview(region, value, style, scale);
     }
 
-    var fontFamily = style.font_family ? 'font-family:' + escapeHtml(style.font_family) + ';' : '';
-    var color = style.font_color ? 'color:' + escapeHtml(style.font_color) + ';' : '';
-    var fontSize = style.font_size ? 'font-size:' + Math.max(1, Math.round(Number(style.font_size))) + 'px;' : '';
+    var fontFamily = 'font-family:' + escapeHtml(style.font_family || 'Arial') + ';';
+    var color = 'color:' + escapeHtml(style.font_color || '#000000') + ';';
+    var fontSize = 'font-size:' + Math.max(1, Math.round(Number(style.font_size || 32))) + 'px;';
     var width = Math.max(1, Math.round(Number(region && region.width ? region.width : 0) || 1));
     var height = Math.max(1, Math.round(Number(region && region.height ? region.height : 0) || 1));
     var wrapperStyle = 'width:' + width + 'px;height:' + height + 'px;overflow:hidden;' + fontFamily + fontSize + color;

src/web/public/js/slides/slide-form-regions.js

@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ export function createSlideFormRegionHelpers(options) {
     return fields;
   }
 
-  function buildLimitedPlaceholderChipMarkup(fieldList, emptyLabel) {
+  function buildLimitedPlaceholderChipMarkup(fieldList, emptyLabel, includeTransformHint) {
     var fields = Array.isArray(fieldList) ? fieldList : [];
     var visibleFields = fields.slice(0, 8);
     var overflowFields = fields.slice(visibleFields.length);
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ export function createSlideFormRegionHelpers(options) {
         ? placeholderChips.renderChip(field)
         : '<span class="chip">{{' + escapeHtml(field) + '}}</span>';
     }).join('');
-    var transformHint = '<div class="text-body-secondary small mt-1">Placeholder values support transforms, for example <code>{{title.upper()}}</code>, <code>{{title.title()}}</code>, <code>{{title.lower()}}</code>, <code>{{publishedAt.format("MMM D, YYYY")}}</code>.</div>';
+    var transformHint = includeTransformHint === false ? '' : '<div class="text-body-secondary small mt-1">Placeholder values support transforms, for example <code>{{title.upper()}}</code>, <code>{{title.title()}}</code>, <code>{{title.lower()}}</code>, <code>{{publishedAt.format("MMM D, YYYY")}}</code>.</div>';
 
     if (!overflowFields.length) {
       return visibleMarkup + transformHint;
@@ -417,7 +417,7 @@ export function createSlideFormRegionHelpers(options) {
       return;
     }
 
-    container.innerHTML = buildLimitedPlaceholderChipMarkup(getApiFieldList(sourceId, itemsPathOverride), 'No JSON fields available.');
+    container.innerHTML = buildLimitedPlaceholderChipMarkup(getApiFieldList(sourceId, itemsPathOverride), 'No JSON fields available.', false);
   }
 
   function updateApiSampleDataPanel(regionId, sourceId, itemNumber, itemsPathOverride) {
@@ -561,7 +561,7 @@ export function createSlideFormRegionHelpers(options) {
           ? getRssFieldList(getCurrentRssConfig(region).feed_id).map(function (field) {
               return '<span class="chip">{{' + escapeHtml(field) + '}}</span>';
             }).join('')
-          : buildLimitedPlaceholderChipMarkup(getApiFieldList(getCurrentApiConfig(region).source_id, getCurrentApiConfig(region).items_path), 'No JSON fields available.'),
+          : buildLimitedPlaceholderChipMarkup(getApiFieldList(getCurrentApiConfig(region).source_id, getCurrentApiConfig(region).items_path), 'No JSON fields available.', false),
         placeholderFields: region.region_type === 'api'
           ? getApiFieldList(getCurrentApiConfig(region).source_id, getCurrentApiConfig(region).items_path)
           : region.region_type === 'rss'
@@ -602,7 +602,7 @@ export function createSlideFormRegionHelpers(options) {
       }).join(''),
       placeholderChips: region.region_type === 'rss'
         ? buildLimitedPlaceholderChipMarkup(getRssFieldList(rssConfig.feed_id), 'No RSS fields available.')
-        : buildLimitedPlaceholderChipMarkup(getApiFieldList(apiConfig.source_id, apiItemsPath), 'No JSON fields available.'),
+        : buildLimitedPlaceholderChipMarkup(getApiFieldList(apiConfig.source_id, apiItemsPath), 'No JSON fields available.', false),
       placeholderFields: region.region_type === 'api'
         ? getApiFieldList(apiConfig.source_id, apiItemsPath)
         : region.region_type === 'rss'

src/web/public/js/slides/slide-form.js

@@ -654,7 +654,7 @@ import { createSlideFormPreviewHelpers } from '/assets/js/slides/slide-form-prev
       var content = typeModule && typeof typeModule.renderPreview === 'function'
         ? typeModule.renderPreview(region, previewContext, previewContext)
         : renderPreviewTextRegion(region, previewContext.value, previewContext.style, scale);
-      if (typeModule && typeof typeModule.renderPreview === 'function') {
+      if (typeModule && typeof typeModule.renderPreview === 'function' && region.region_type !== 'api' && region.region_type !== 'rss') {
         content = content || renderPreviewTextRegion(region, previewContext.value, previewContext.style, scale);
       }
       var selected = region.region_type === 'image'

test/slide-form-editor.test.js

@@ -23,6 +23,11 @@ test('slide editor enables server-backed image uploads', () => {
   assert.ok(slideFormEditorSource.includes('remove_script_host: false'));
 });
 
+test('slide editor keeps normal TinyMCE image insertion unchanged', () => {
+  assert.doesNotMatch(slideFormEditorSource, /bindPlaceholderImageSupport|placeholderFallbackSource/);
+  assert.ok(slideFormEditorSource.includes('images_upload_handler: uploadEditorImage'));
+});
+
 test('slide editor inserts tables with zero padding and spacing by default', () => {
   assert.ok(slideFormEditorSource.includes("table_default_attributes: {"));
   assert.ok(slideFormEditorSource.includes("cellpadding: '0'"));