Release 2.8.5

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -2,6 +2,38 @@
 
 All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 
+## 2.8.5 - 2026-08-17
+
+### Fixed
+
+- Fixed 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
+
+### Added
+
+- Added local caching for API and RSS image placeholders under `player-cache/remote-images` for offline player playback.
+- Added reconciliation of cached remote images so files no longer referenced by slides are removed.
+
+### 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.
+
+## 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": "2.8.5",
   "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": "2.8.5",
   "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": "2.8.5",
   "lockfileVersion": 3,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "pulse-signage",
-      "version": "2.8.2",
+      "version": "2.8.5",
       "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": "2.8.5",
   "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-bridge/index.js

@@ -187,6 +187,7 @@ async function start() {
   const playerPlaylistService = createPlayerPlaylistService({
     pool: pool,
     common: common,
+    mediaDir: config.mediaDir,
     snapshotDir: path.join(config.mediaDir, 'player-cache', 'screen-playlists')
   });
   app.use(express.json());

src/player.js

@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ async function start() {
     : createPlayerPlaylistService({
         pool: pool,
         common: common,
+        mediaDir: MEDIA_DIR,
         snapshotDir: path.join(MEDIA_DIR, 'player-cache', 'screen-playlists')
       });
   const rtmpStreamService = createRtmpStreamService({

src/player/playlist.js

@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ function createPlayerPlaylistService(options) {
   const pool = options && options.pool ? options.pool : null;
   const common = options && options.common ? options.common : null;
   const snapshotDir = options && options.snapshotDir ? options.snapshotDir : null;
+  const mediaDir = options && options.mediaDir ? path.resolve(String(options.mediaDir)) : null;
+  const remoteImageCacheDir = mediaDir ? path.join(mediaDir, 'player-cache', 'remote-images') : null;
 
   if (!pool) {
     throw new Error('pool is required');
@@ -61,6 +63,105 @@ function createPlayerPlaylistService(options) {
     return createStyledQrCodeDataUrl(value);
   }
 
+  function getPlaceholderImageExpressions(value, output) {
+    const expressions = output || [];
+    const source = String(value || '');
+    const pattern = /\{\{\s*([^{}]*?\.image\s*\([^{}]*\)[^{}]*?)\s*\}\}/gi;
+    let match = null;
+    while ((match = pattern.exec(source))) {
+      expressions.push(String(match[1] || '').trim());
+    }
+    return expressions;
+  }
+
+  function resolvePathValue(value, expression) {
+    const parsed = String(expression || '').replace(/\.image\s*\([^)]*\)\s*$/i, '').trim();
+    return parsed.split('.').reduce(function (current, segment) {
+      return current === undefined || current === null ? '' : current[segment];
+    }, value);
+  }
+
+  function getApiItems(responseJson, itemsPath) {
+    let current = responseJson;
+    const pathValue = String(itemsPath || '').trim();
+    if (pathValue) {
+      pathValue.split('.').forEach(function (segment) {
+        current = current === undefined || current === null ? '' : current[segment];
+      });
+      return Array.isArray(current) ? current : [];
+    }
+    if (Array.isArray(responseJson)) return responseJson;
+    if (responseJson && Array.isArray(responseJson.items)) return responseJson.items;
+    if (responseJson && Array.isArray(responseJson.results)) return responseJson.results;
+    if (responseJson && Array.isArray(responseJson.data)) return responseJson.data;
+    return responseJson ? [responseJson] : [];
+  }
+
+  async function cacheRemoteImage(url) {
+    const remoteUrl = String(url || '').trim();
+    if (!remoteImageCacheDir || !/^https?:\/\//i.test(remoteUrl)) return '';
+    const hash = crypto.createHash('sha256').update(remoteUrl).digest('hex');
+    await fs.promises.mkdir(remoteImageCacheDir, { recursive: true });
+    const existing = (await fs.promises.readdir(remoteImageCacheDir)).find(function (name) { return name.startsWith(hash + '.'); });
+    if (existing) return '/media/player-cache/remote-images/' + existing;
+    try {
+      const response = await fetch(remoteUrl, { signal: AbortSignal.timeout(15000) });
+      if (!response.ok || !String(response.headers.get('content-type') || '').toLowerCase().startsWith('image/')) return '';
+      const bytes = Buffer.from(await response.arrayBuffer());
+      if (bytes.length > 10 * 1024 * 1024) return '';
+      const contentType = String(response.headers.get('content-type') || '').toLowerCase();
+      const extension = contentType.includes('svg') ? '.svg' : contentType.includes('png') ? '.png' : contentType.includes('webp') ? '.webp' : contentType.includes('gif') ? '.gif' : '.jpg';
+      const fileName = hash + extension;
+      const filePath = path.join(remoteImageCacheDir, fileName);
+      await fs.promises.writeFile(filePath, bytes);
+      return '/media/player-cache/remote-images/' + fileName;
+    } catch (_error) {
+      return '';
+    }
+  }
+
+  async function cachePlaceholderImages(slides, rssFeeds, apiSources) {
+    if (!remoteImageCacheDir) return;
+    const usedPaths = new Set();
+    const allSlideRows = await pool.query('SELECT content_json FROM c_slides').then(function (result) { return result[0] || []; });
+    const allContents = allSlideRows.map(function (row) { return common.parseJsonSafe(row.content_json) || {}; });
+    const sourceContent = allContents.concat((slides || []).map(function (slide) { return slide.content || {}; }));
+    const cacheSource = async function (source, item, expressions) {
+      if (!source || !item) return;
+      for (const expression of expressions) {
+        const remoteUrl = String(resolvePathValue(item, expression) || '').trim();
+        const localPath = await cacheRemoteImage(remoteUrl);
+        if (localPath) {
+          source.imageCache = source.imageCache || {};
+          source.imageCache[remoteUrl] = localPath;
+          usedPaths.add(localPath);
+        }
+      }
+    };
+    for (const content of sourceContent) {
+      for (const key of Object.keys(content || {})) {
+        const region = content[key];
+        if (!region || typeof region !== 'object') continue;
+        const expressions = getPlaceholderImageExpressions(region.value, []);
+        if (!expressions.length) continue;
+        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 ? getApiItems(source.responseJson, region.items_path) : [];
+          await cacheSource(source, items[itemNumber], expressions);
+        }
+        if (String(region.type || '').toLowerCase() === 'rss') {
+          const feed = (rssFeeds || []).find(function (entry) { return Number(entry.id) === Number(region.feed_id); });
+          await cacheSource(feed, feed && feed.items && feed.items[itemNumber], expressions);
+        }
+      }
+    }
+    const files = await fs.promises.readdir(remoteImageCacheDir).catch(function () { return []; });
+    await Promise.all(files.filter(function (file) { return !usedPaths.has('/media/player-cache/remote-images/' + file); }).map(function (file) {
+      return fs.promises.unlink(path.join(remoteImageCacheDir, file)).catch(function () {});
+    }));
+  }
+
   async function buildScreenPlaylist(slug) {
     try {
       const [screenRows] = await pool.query('SELECT id, name, slug, playlist_id, created_at, modified_at, created_by, modified_by FROM d_screens WHERE slug = ?', [slug]);
@@ -241,6 +342,8 @@ function createPlayerPlaylistService(options) {
         timetableGroups = Array.isArray(timetableData && timetableData.timetableGroups) ? timetableData.timetableGroups : [];
       }
 
+      await cachePlaceholderImages(slides, rssFeeds, apiSources);
+
       const revision = getPlaylistRevision(screen, playlist, slideRows, scheduleRuleRows, templateRows, regionRows, rssFeeds, apiSources, timetableGroups);
       const payload = { screen: screen, playlist: playlist, slides: slides, rssFeeds: rssFeeds, apiSources: apiSources, timetableGroups: timetableGroups, revision: revision };
       await writeSnapshot(slug, payload);

src/player/regions/api.js

@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ function getApiItem(sourceId, itemNumber, itemsPathOverride) {
   return items[index] || null;
 }
 
-function substituteApiVariables(html, item) {
+function substituteApiVariables(html, item, sourceId) {
   var source = String(html || '');
   return source.replace(/\{\{\s*([^{}]+?)\s*\}\}/g, function (_match, expression) {
     if (!item || typeof item !== 'object') {
@@ -67,7 +67,25 @@ 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);
+      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 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 +138,8 @@ 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, sourceId) : '') : 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/html.js

@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ function buildHtmlDocument(html) {
     return raw;
   }
 
-  return '<!doctype html><html><head><style>html,body{margin:0;width:100%;height:100%;overflow:hidden;background:transparent;}</style></head><body>' + raw + '</body></html>';
+  return '<!doctype html><html><head><style>html,body{margin:0;width:100%;height:100%;overflow:hidden;background:transparent;}html,body{background:transparent !important;}</style></head><body>' + raw + '</body></html>';
 }
 
 function renderHtmlRegionContent(value) {
@@ -40,7 +40,10 @@ function renderHtmlRegionContent(value) {
   if (!html) {
     return '';
   }
-  return '<iframe class="template-region-html-frame" sandbox="" scrolling="no" srcdoc="' + escapeHtml(buildHtmlDocument(html)) + '" title="HTML region" loading="eager" style="width:100%;height:100%;border:0;display:block;background:transparent;overflow:hidden;"></iframe>';
+  if (/^<!doctype\b/i.test(html) || /^<html\b/i.test(html)) {
+    return '<iframe class="template-region-html-frame" sandbox="" allowtransparency="true" scrolling="no" srcdoc="' + escapeHtml(html) + '" title="HTML region" loading="eager" style="width:100%;height:100%;border:0;display:block;background:transparent;overflow:hidden;"></iframe>';
+  }
+  return '<div class="template-region-html-content" style="width:100%;height:100%;overflow:hidden;background:transparent;">' + html + '</div>';
 }
 
 function renderHtmlRegion(region, regionContent) {

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 {
@@ -63,14 +64,34 @@ function resolveRssPath(value, path) {
   return current === undefined || current === null ? '' : current;
 }
 
-function substituteRssVariables(html, item) {
+function substituteRssVariables(html, item, feedId) {
   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);
+      var feed = getRssFeedById(feedId);
+      imageSource = feed && feed.imageCache && feed.imageCache[imageSource] ? feed.imageCache[imageSource] : imageSource;
+      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 +104,8 @@ 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, feedId) : '') : 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/media/slide-thumbnail-preview.js

@@ -142,9 +142,13 @@ function buildRegionInnerHtml(region, regionContent, baseUrl) {
 
   if (regionType === 'html') {
     const html = String(rawValue || '').trim();
-    return html
-      ? '<div class="slide-preview-region slide-preview-html-region" style="' + region.baseStyle + '"><iframe sandbox="" allowtransparency="true" srcdoc="' + escapeHtml('<!doctype html><html><head><style>html,body{margin:0;width:100%;height:100%;overflow:hidden;background:transparent;}</style></head><body>' + html + '</body></html>') + '" title="' + escapeHtml(region.label || region.region_key || 'html') + '" loading="eager" scrolling="no" style="width:100%;height:100%;border:0;display:block;background:transparent;overflow:hidden;"></iframe></div>'
-      : '';
+    if (!html) {
+      return '';
+    }
+    if (/^<!doctype\b/i.test(html) || /^<html\b/i.test(html)) {
+      return '<div class="slide-preview-region slide-preview-html-region" style="' + region.baseStyle + '"><iframe sandbox="" allowtransparency="true" srcdoc="' + escapeHtml(html) + '" title="' + escapeHtml(region.label || region.region_key || 'html') + '" loading="eager" scrolling="no" style="width:100%;height:100%;border:0;display:block;background:transparent;overflow:hidden;"></iframe></div>';
+    }
+    return '<div class="slide-preview-region slide-preview-html-region" style="' + region.baseStyle + '"><div class="slide-preview-html-content" style="width:100%;height:100%;overflow:hidden;background:transparent;">' + html + '</div></div>';
   }
 
   if (regionType === 'rtmp') {

src/web/lib/media/slide-thumbnails.js

@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 
 const fs = require('fs');
 const path = require('path');
+const crypto = require('crypto');
+const vm = require('vm');
 const {
   escapeHtml,
   mediaKind,
@@ -10,7 +12,13 @@ const {
   sanitizeFontSize,
   sanitizeTextColor
 } = require('#src/player/render-helpers');
-const { createRequestAuthHeaders } = require('#src/request-auth');
+const { createRequestAuthHeaders, createPageAuthToken } = require('#src/request-auth');
+
+const placeholderUtils = (() => {
+  const sandbox = { window: {} };
+  vm.runInNewContext(fs.readFileSync(path.join(__dirname, '..', '..', 'public', 'js', 'shared', 'placeholder-utils.js'), 'utf8'), sandbox);
+  return sandbox.window.placeholderUtils || {};
+})();
 
 const SYSTEM_CHROMIUM_PATHS = [
   process.env.PUPPETEER_EXECUTABLE_PATH,
@@ -124,11 +132,51 @@ function hasVisibleContent(html) {
   return Boolean(raw.replace(/<[^>]+>/g, '').trim());
 }
 
-function buildTextRegionMarkup(region, regionContent) {
+function resolvePlaceholderPath(value, expression) {
+  const pathValue = String(expression || '').replace(/\.image\s*\([^)]*\)\s*$/i, '').trim();
+  return pathValue.split('.').reduce(function (current, segment) {
+    return current === undefined || current === null ? '' : current[segment];
+  }, value);
+}
+
+function getImagePlaceholderConfig(expression) {
+  const match = String(expression || '').match(/\.image\s*\(\s*([0-9]+)?\s*,?\s*([0-9]+)?\s*\)/i);
+  return {
+    width: match && match[1] ? Number(match[1]) : 0,
+    height: match && match[2] ? Number(match[2]) : 0
+  };
+}
+
+function substitutePlaceholders(html, regionContent, options) {
+  const source = String(html || '');
+  const type = String(regionContent && regionContent.type || '').trim().toLowerCase();
+  const item = options && typeof options.getItem === 'function' ? options.getItem(type, regionContent) : null;
+  if (!item) return source;
+  return source.replace(/\{\{\s*([^{}]+?)\s*\}\}/gi, function (_match, expression) {
+    const resolved = typeof placeholderUtils.resolvePlaceholderExpression === 'function'
+      ? placeholderUtils.resolvePlaceholderExpression(item, expression)
+      : resolvePlaceholderPath(item, expression);
+    const value = typeof placeholderUtils.formatPlaceholderValue === 'function' ? placeholderUtils.formatPlaceholderValue(resolved) : String(resolved || '');
+    if (typeof placeholderUtils.isImagePlaceholderExpression !== 'function' || !placeholderUtils.isImagePlaceholderExpression(expression)) {
+      return escapeHtml(value);
+    }
+    const remoteUrl = String(value || '').trim();
+    if (!/^https?:\/\//i.test(remoteUrl)) return '';
+    const imageConfig = typeof placeholderUtils.getImagePlaceholderConfig === 'function' ? placeholderUtils.getImagePlaceholderConfig(expression) : getImagePlaceholderConfig(expression);
+    const cacheFile = options && typeof options.getCachedImagePath === 'function' ? options.getCachedImagePath(remoteUrl) : '';
+    const imageUrl = cacheFile || remoteUrl;
+    const style = imageConfig.width && imageConfig.height
+      ? 'display:block;width:' + imageConfig.width + 'px;height:' + imageConfig.height + 'px;object-fit:contain;'
+      : 'display:block;max-width:' + (imageConfig.width || 100) + 'px;max-height:' + (imageConfig.height || 100) + 'px;width:auto;height:auto;';
+    return '<img src="' + escapeHtml(resolveAssetUrl(options && options.baseUrl, imageUrl)) + '" alt="" style="' + style + '" />';
+  });
+}
+
+function buildTextRegionMarkup(region, regionContent, options) {
   const fontFamily = sanitizeFontFamily(regionContent.font_family || region.font_family);
   const fontSize = sanitizeFontSize(regionContent.font_size || region.font_size);
   const fontColor = sanitizeTextColor(regionContent.font_color || region.font_color);
-  const renderedBody = renderEditorJsContent(regionContent.value || '');
+  const renderedBody = renderEditorJsContent(substitutePlaceholders(regionContent.value || '', regionContent, options));
   if (!hasVisibleContent(renderedBody)) {
     return '';
   }
@@ -136,7 +184,7 @@ function buildTextRegionMarkup(region, regionContent) {
   return '<div class="slide-preview-region slide-preview-text-region" style="' + region.baseStyle + '"><div class="slide-preview-text-content" style="width:' + region.pixelWidth + 'px;height:' + region.pixelHeight + 'px;overflow:hidden;' + (fontFamily ? 'font-family:' + escapeHtml(fontFamily) + ';' : '') + 'font-size:' + fontSize + 'px;color:' + escapeHtml(fontColor || '#000000') + ';">' + renderedBody + '</div></div>';
 }
 
-function buildRegionInnerHtml(region, regionContent, baseUrl) {
+function buildRegionInnerHtml(region, regionContent, baseUrl, options) {
   const regionType = String(regionContent.type || region.region_type || 'text').trim().toLowerCase();
   const rawValue = normalizeRenderableValue(regionContent && regionContent.value !== undefined ? regionContent.value : '');
 
@@ -155,10 +203,7 @@ function buildRegionInnerHtml(region, regionContent, baseUrl) {
   }
 
   if (regionType === 'webpage') {
-    const src = resolveAssetUrl(baseUrl, rawValue);
-    return src
-      ? '<div class="slide-preview-region slide-preview-webpage-region" style="' + region.baseStyle + '"><iframe src="' + escapeHtml(src) + '" title="' + escapeHtml(region.label || region.region_key || 'webpage') + '" loading="eager" referrerpolicy="no-referrer" scrolling="no" style="width:100%;height:100%;border:0;display:block;background:#fff;overflow:hidden;"></iframe></div>'
-      : '';
+    return '<div class="slide-preview-region slide-preview-webpage-region" style="' + region.baseStyle + '"><div class="slide-preview-webpage-placeholder" style="width:100%;height:100%;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;background:rgba(255,255,255,0.08);backdrop-filter:blur(8px);-webkit-backdrop-filter:blur(8px);border:1px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.14);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgba(255,255,255,0.72);font-size:24px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;">Webpage preview unavailable</div></div>';
   }
 
   if (regionType === 'qr-code') {
@@ -172,9 +217,13 @@ function buildRegionInnerHtml(region, regionContent, baseUrl) {
 
   if (regionType === 'html') {
     const html = String(rawValue || '').trim();
-    return html
-      ? '<div class="slide-preview-region slide-preview-html-region" style="' + region.baseStyle + '"><iframe sandbox="" allowtransparency="true" srcdoc="' + escapeHtml('<!doctype html><html><head><style>html,body{margin:0;width:100%;height:100%;overflow:hidden;background:transparent;}</style></head><body>' + html + '</body></html>') + '" title="' + escapeHtml(region.label || region.region_key || 'html') + '" loading="eager" scrolling="no" style="width:100%;height:100%;border:0;display:block;background:transparent;overflow:hidden;"></iframe></div>'
-      : '';
+    if (!html) {
+      return '';
+    }
+    if (/^<!doctype\b/i.test(html) || /^<html\b/i.test(html)) {
+      return '<div class="slide-preview-region slide-preview-html-region" style="' + region.baseStyle + '"><iframe sandbox="" allowtransparency="true" srcdoc="' + escapeHtml(html) + '" title="' + escapeHtml(region.label || region.region_key || 'html') + '" loading="eager" scrolling="no" style="width:100%;height:100%;border:0;display:block;background:transparent;overflow:hidden;"></iframe></div>';
+    }
+    return '<div class="slide-preview-region slide-preview-html-region" style="' + region.baseStyle + '"><div class="slide-preview-html-content" style="width:100%;height:100%;overflow:hidden;background:transparent;">' + html + '</div></div>';
   }
 
   if (regionType === 'rtmp') {
@@ -182,7 +231,7 @@ function buildRegionInnerHtml(region, regionContent, baseUrl) {
     return '<div class="slide-preview-region slide-preview-rtmp-region" style="' + region.baseStyle + '"><div class="slide-preview-rtmp-placeholder">' + escapeHtml(label) + '</div></div>';
   }
 
-  return buildTextRegionMarkup(region, regionContent);
+  return buildTextRegionMarkup(region, regionContent, Object.assign({}, options, { baseUrl: baseUrl }));
 }
 
 async function loadChromium() {
@@ -199,7 +248,7 @@ function loadSharp() {
   return require('sharp');
 }
 
-function buildThumbnailPreviewMarkup(slide, baseUrl) {
+function buildThumbnailPreviewMarkup(slide, baseUrl, options) {
   const template = slide && slide.template ? slide.template : null;
   if (!template) {
     return '';
@@ -214,7 +263,7 @@ function buildThumbnailPreviewMarkup(slide, baseUrl) {
       pixelWidth: Math.max(1, Math.round(Number(region && region.width || 0) || 1)),
       pixelHeight: Math.max(1, Math.round(Number(region && region.height || 0) || 1))
     });
-    return buildRegionInnerHtml(previewRegion, regionContent, normalizedBaseUrl);
+    return buildRegionInnerHtml(previewRegion, regionContent, normalizedBaseUrl, options);
   }).join('');
 }
 
@@ -228,7 +277,7 @@ function buildThumbnailPreviewPayload(slide, options) {
     backgroundColor: template && template.background_color ? String(template.background_color) : '#111111',
     backgroundImagePath: template && template.background_image_path ? String(template.background_image_path) : '',
     fontStylesheetHref: String(options && options.fontStylesheetHref || '').trim(),
-    html: buildThumbnailPreviewMarkup(slide, options && options.baseUrl)
+    html: buildThumbnailPreviewMarkup(slide, options && options.baseUrl, options)
   };
 }
 
@@ -253,8 +302,7 @@ async function launchBrowser() {
       args: [
         '--no-sandbox',
         '--disable-setuid-sandbox',
-        '--disable-dev-shm-usage',
-        '--disable-gpu'
+        '--disable-dev-shm-usage'
       ],
       defaultViewport: { width: 1920, height: 1080, deviceScaleFactor: 1 },
       executablePath: executablePath,
@@ -291,6 +339,53 @@ async function captureSlideThumbnail(options) {
     throw new Error('Slide not found.');
   }
 
+  const rssFeedsData = typeof common.fetchRssFeedsData === 'function' ? await common.fetchRssFeedsData(pool) : { rssFeeds: [] };
+  const rssFeeds = await Promise.all((rssFeedsData.rssFeeds || []).map(async function (feed) {
+    const items = typeof common.fetchRssFeedItemsByFeedId === 'function' ? await common.fetchRssFeedItemsByFeedId(pool, feed.id) : [];
+    return Object.assign({}, feed, { items: items });
+  }));
+  const apiSourcesData = typeof common.fetchApiSourcesData === 'function' ? await common.fetchApiSourcesData(pool) : { apiSources: [] };
+  const apiSources = (apiSourcesData.apiSources || []).map(function (source) {
+    return Object.assign({}, source, { responseJson: common.parseJsonSafe ? common.parseJsonSafe(source.last_response_json) : null });
+  });
+
+  function getApiItems(source) {
+    const response = source && source.responseJson;
+    const itemsPath = String(source && source.items_path || '').trim();
+    if (itemsPath) {
+      const selected = itemsPath.split('.').reduce(function (current, segment) {
+        return current === undefined || current === null ? '' : current[segment];
+      }, response);
+      return Array.isArray(selected) ? selected : [];
+    }
+    if (Array.isArray(response)) return response;
+    if (response && Array.isArray(response.items)) return response.items;
+    if (response && Array.isArray(response.results)) return response.results;
+    if (response && Array.isArray(response.data)) return response.data;
+    return response ? [response] : [];
+  }
+
+  function getThumbnailItem(type, regionContent) {
+    const index = Math.max(0, Math.max(1, Number(regionContent && regionContent.item_number || 1)) - 1);
+    if (type === 'api') {
+      const source = apiSources.find(function (entry) { return Number(entry.id) === Number(regionContent.source_id); });
+      return getApiItems(source)[index] || null;
+    }
+    if (type === 'rss') {
+      const feed = rssFeeds.find(function (entry) { return Number(entry.id) === Number(regionContent.feed_id); });
+      return feed && Array.isArray(feed.items) ? feed.items[index] || null : null;
+    }
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  function getCachedImagePath(remoteUrl) {
+    const hash = crypto.createHash('sha256').update(String(remoteUrl || '')).digest('hex');
+    const cacheDir = path.join(mediaDir, 'player-cache', 'remote-images');
+    const candidates = ['.png', '.jpg', '.jpeg', '.gif', '.webp', '.svg'];
+    const candidate = candidates.map(function (extension) { return path.join(cacheDir, hash + extension); }).find(function (filePath) { return fs.existsSync(filePath); });
+    return candidate ? '/media/player-cache/remote-images/' + path.basename(candidate) : '';
+  }
+
   const thumbnailDir = path.join(mediaDir, 'thumbnails');
   const thumbnailRelativePath = String(slide.thumbnail_path || '').trim() || '/media/thumbnails/slides/slide-' + slide.id + '.png';
   const filePath = path.join(mediaDir, thumbnailRelativePath.replace(/^\/+media\//, ''));
@@ -306,14 +401,9 @@ async function captureSlideThumbnail(options) {
     }, { timeout: 30000 });
 
     await page.waitForFunction(function () {
-      var canvas = document.querySelector('#popup-preview-canvas');
-      if (!canvas) {
-        return false;
-      }
-
-      var images = Array.prototype.slice.call(canvas.querySelectorAll('img'));
-      return images.every(function (image) {
-        return image.complete && typeof image.naturalWidth === 'number';
+      var videos = Array.prototype.slice.call(document.querySelectorAll('#popup-preview-canvas video'));
+      return videos.every(function (video) {
+        return video.readyState >= 2;
       });
     }, { timeout: 30000 });
 
@@ -322,17 +412,13 @@ async function captureSlideThumbnail(options) {
         try {
           await document.fonts.ready;
         } catch (_error) {
-          // Ignore font readiness failures and fall back to the rendered frame.
+          return null;
         }
       }
     });
 
-    await page.evaluate(function () {
-      return new Promise(function (resolve) {
-        window.requestAnimationFrame(function () {
-          window.requestAnimationFrame(resolve);
-        });
-      });
+    await new Promise(function (resolve) {
+      setTimeout(resolve, 1000);
     });
   }
 
@@ -340,28 +426,49 @@ async function captureSlideThumbnail(options) {
   try {
     const page = await browser.newPage();
     try {
-      const previewPath = '/api/internal/slide-thumbnails/' + slide.id + '/popup-preview';
+      const previewPath = '/api/internal/slide-thumbnails/' + encodeURIComponent(String(slide.id)) + '/popup-preview';
       const previewUrl = baseUrl + previewPath;
-      const previewPayload = buildThumbnailPreviewPayload(slide, {
-        baseUrl: baseUrl,
-        fontStylesheetHref: options && options.fontStylesheetHref ? options.fontStylesheetHref : ''
+      const canvasSize = getThumbnailCanvasSize(slide);
+      await page.setViewport({
+        width: Math.max(1, Number(canvasSize.width || PLAYER_VIEWPORT.width)),
+        height: Math.max(1, Number(canvasSize.height || PLAYER_VIEWPORT.height)),
+        deviceScaleFactor: 1
       });
-        await page.setViewport({
-          width: Math.max(1, Number(previewPayload.canvasWidth || PLAYER_VIEWPORT.width)),
-          height: Math.max(1, Number(previewPayload.canvasHeight || PLAYER_VIEWPORT.height)),
-          deviceScaleFactor: 1
-        });
-      await page.setExtraHTTPHeaders(createRequestAuthHeaders({
+      await page.setExtraHTTPHeaders(Object.assign({}, createRequestAuthHeaders({
         method: 'GET',
         pathname: previewPath
+      }), {
+        'x-pulse-page-auth': createPageAuthToken({ scope: 'thumbnail-preview', slideId: slide.id })
       }));
-      await page.goto(previewUrl, { waitUntil: 'domcontentloaded', timeout: 30000 });
+      const previewResponse = await page.goto(previewUrl, { waitUntil: 'domcontentloaded', timeout: 30000 });
+      if (!previewResponse || previewResponse.status() >= 400) {
+        throw new Error('Popup preview returned HTTP ' + (previewResponse ? previewResponse.status() : 'no response') + '.');
+      }
       await waitForThumbnailRender(page);
       const canvas = await page.$('#popup-preview-canvas');
       if (!canvas) {
         throw new Error('Popup preview did not produce a slide canvas.');
       }
-      await canvas.screenshot({ path: fullSizePath });
+      await page.evaluate(function () {
+        var canvasElement = document.querySelector('#popup-preview-canvas');
+        if (canvasElement) {
+          canvasElement.style.transform = 'none';
+          canvasElement.style.transformOrigin = 'top left';
+        }
+      });
+      const canvasBounds = await canvas.boundingBox();
+      if (!canvasBounds) {
+        throw new Error('Popup preview canvas has no screenshot bounds.');
+      }
+      await page.screenshot({
+        path: fullSizePath,
+        clip: {
+          x: Math.max(0, canvasBounds.x),
+          y: Math.max(0, canvasBounds.y),
+          width: Math.max(1, canvasBounds.width),
+          height: Math.max(1, canvasBounds.height)
+        }
+      });
     } finally {
       await page.close().catch(function () {
         return null;

src/web/lib/media/upload-sync.js

@@ -432,6 +432,10 @@ function createUploadSyncService(options) {
         const nextRelativePath = relativeDir ? path.posix.join(relativeDir, entryName) : entryName;
         const nextAbsolutePath = path.join(currentDir, entryName);
 
+        if (!relativeDir && entryName === 'player-cache') {
+          continue;
+        }
+
         if (entry.isDirectory && entry.isDirectory()) {
           await walkDirectory(nextAbsolutePath, nextRelativePath);
           continue;

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/middleware.js

@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ module.exports = function registerMiddleware(app, deps) {
   });
 
   app.use(function (req, res, next) {
-    if (req.path === '/' || req.path === '/login' || req.path === '/logout' || req.path.indexOf('/api/internal/slide-thumbnails/') === 0 || req.path === '/api/internal/sync/player-media' || req.path === '/api/internal/sync/player-font') {
+    if (req.path === '/' || req.path === '/login' || req.path === '/logout' || req.path === '/slides/popup-preview' || req.path.indexOf('/api/internal/slide-thumbnails/') === 0 || req.path === '/api/internal/sync/player-media' || req.path === '/api/internal/sync/player-font') {
       return next();
     }
 

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

@@ -2383,6 +2383,11 @@ html[data-bs-theme='dark'] .template-field-card .tox .tox-collection {
   margin-bottom: 0;
 }
 
+.template-field-card .form-label,
+.region-item .form-label {
+  margin-bottom: 0.35rem;
+}
+
 .template-field-card .form-control,
 .template-field-card .form-select,
 .template-field-card textarea,
@@ -2533,6 +2538,13 @@ 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/settings/background-tasks.js

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 (function () {
-  if (window.location.pathname.replace(/\/$/, '') !== '/settings/tasks-background' && window.location.pathname.replace(/\/$/, '') !== '/settings/tasks-scheduled') {
+  var normalizedPathname = window.location.pathname.replace(/\/$/, '');
+  if (normalizedPathname !== '/settings/tasks-background' && normalizedPathname !== '/settings/tasks-scheduled') {
     return;
   }
 

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

@@ -305,31 +305,12 @@ import { createSlideFormPreviewHelpers } from '/assets/js/slides/slide-form-prev
     previewBox.innerHTML = value
       ? '<div class="slide-image-region-preview-shell" data-remove-' + (isVideo ? 'region-video' : isQrImage ? 'region-qr-image' : 'region-image') + '="' + escapeHtml(card.getAttribute('data-region-id') || '') + '" role="button" tabindex="0" aria-label="Remove ' + (isVideo ? 'video' : isQrImage ? 'QR image' : 'image') + '">' +
           (isVideo
-            ? '<video class="slide-image-region-preview" src="' + escapeHtml(value) + '" autoplay loop muted playsinline preload="metadata"></video>'
+            ? '<video class="slide-image-region-preview" src="' + escapeHtml(value) + '" muted playsinline preload="metadata"></video>'
             : '<img class="slide-image-region-preview" src="' + escapeHtml(value) + '" alt="' + (isQrImage ? 'Current QR image preview' : 'Current image preview') + '" />') +
           '<span class="slide-image-region-preview-remove" aria-hidden="true"><i class="bi bi-trash3" aria-hidden="true"></i></span>' +
         '</div>'
       : '<div class="slide-image-region-preview slide-image-region-preview-empty">No ' + (isVideo ? 'video' : 'image') + '</div>';
 
-    if (isVideo) {
-      window.requestAnimationFrame(function () {
-        var video = previewBox.querySelector('video.slide-image-region-preview');
-        if (!video) {
-          return;
-        }
-        try {
-          video.load();
-        } catch (_error) {
-          // Ignore load failures; play() will retry if the browser allows it.
-        }
-        var playPromise = video.play && video.play();
-        if (playPromise && typeof playPromise.catch === 'function') {
-          playPromise.catch(function () {
-            return null;
-          });
-        }
-      });
-    }
   }
 
   function loadVideoDuration(mediaPath) {
@@ -654,7 +635,7 @@ 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'

src/web/routes/settings/background-tasks.js

@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ module.exports = function registerSettingsRoutes(app, deps) {
   app.post('/settings/tasks-scheduled/recurring/:key/run', requireRecurringTaskAccess, async function (req, res, next) {
     try {
       const ran = await backgroundTaskQueue.runRecurringTask(String(req.params.key || '').trim());
-      res.redirect('/settings/tasks-scheduled?message=' + encodeURIComponent(ran ? 'Scheduled refresh run queued.' : 'Unable to run that scheduled refresh.'));
+      res.redirect('/settings/tasks-scheduled?message=' + encodeURIComponent(ran ? 'Task run queued.' : 'Unable to run that task.'));
     } catch (error) {
       next(error);
     }

src/web/routes/signage/slides/routes.js

@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
 // Slide route registration and pagination wiring.
 
 const { renderFragment } = require('../../../view');
+const fs = require('fs');
+const crypto = require('crypto');
 const path = require('path');
-const { verifyRequestAuth } = require('#src/request-auth');
+const { verifyRequestAuth, verifyPageAuthToken } = require('#src/request-auth');
 const { getFontStylesheetHref } = require('#src/web/lib/media/font-library');
-const { buildThumbnailPreviewPayload } = require('#src/web/lib/media/slide-thumbnail-preview');
+const { buildThumbnailPreviewPayload } = require('#src/web/lib/media/slide-thumbnails');
 
 function safeJsonForScript(value) {
   return JSON.stringify(value === undefined ? null : value).replace(/</g, '\\u003c');
@@ -27,6 +29,14 @@ module.exports = function registerSlidesRoutes(app, deps) {
     next();
   }
 
+  function requirePopupPreviewAccess(req, res, next) {
+    if (verifyRequestAuth(req) || verifyPageAuthToken(req.headers && req.headers['x-pulse-page-auth'])) {
+      return next();
+    }
+
+    return requirePermission('slides.read')(req, res, next);
+  }
+
   const LIST_PAGE_SIZE = 25;
 
   app.get('/slides', requirePermission('slides.read'), async function (req, res, next) {
@@ -45,7 +55,7 @@ module.exports = function registerSlidesRoutes(app, deps) {
     }
   });
 
-  app.get('/slides/popup-preview', requirePermission('slides.read'), function (_req, res) {
+  app.get('/slides/popup-preview', requirePopupPreviewAccess, function (_req, res) {
     res.send(renderFragment('slides/popup-preview', {
       title: 'Slide preview',
       framePopupCard: true,
@@ -61,9 +71,52 @@ module.exports = function registerSlidesRoutes(app, deps) {
         return res.status(404).send('Slide not found');
       }
 
+      const rssData = typeof common.fetchRssFeedsData === 'function' ? await common.fetchRssFeedsData(pool) : { rssFeeds: [] };
+      const rssFeeds = await Promise.all((rssData.rssFeeds || []).map(async function (feed) {
+        const items = typeof common.fetchRssFeedItemsByFeedId === 'function' ? await common.fetchRssFeedItemsByFeedId(pool, feed.id) : [];
+        return Object.assign({}, feed, { items: items });
+      }));
+      const apiData = typeof common.fetchApiSourcesData === 'function' ? await common.fetchApiSourcesData(pool) : { apiSources: [] };
+      const apiSources = (apiData.apiSources || []).map(function (source) {
+        return Object.assign({}, source, { responseJson: common.parseJsonSafe ? common.parseJsonSafe(source.last_response_json) : null });
+      });
+      const getApiItems = function (source) {
+        const response = source && source.responseJson;
+        const itemsPath = String(source && source.items_path || '').trim();
+        if (itemsPath) {
+          const selected = itemsPath.split('.').reduce(function (current, segment) { return current === undefined || current === null ? '' : current[segment]; }, response);
+          return Array.isArray(selected) ? selected : [];
+        }
+        if (Array.isArray(response)) return response;
+        if (response && Array.isArray(response.items)) return response.items;
+        if (response && Array.isArray(response.results)) return response.results;
+        if (response && Array.isArray(response.data)) return response.data;
+        return response ? [response] : [];
+      };
+      const getItem = function (type, regionContent) {
+        const index = Math.max(0, Math.max(1, Number(regionContent && regionContent.item_number || 1)) - 1);
+        if (type === 'api') {
+          const source = apiSources.find(function (entry) { return Number(entry.id) === Number(regionContent.source_id); });
+          return getApiItems(source)[index] || null;
+        }
+        if (type === 'rss') {
+          const feed = rssFeeds.find(function (entry) { return Number(entry.id) === Number(regionContent.feed_id); });
+          return feed && Array.isArray(feed.items) ? feed.items[index] || null : null;
+        }
+        return null;
+      };
+      const getCachedImagePath = function (remoteUrl) {
+        const hash = crypto.createHash('sha256').update(String(remoteUrl || '')).digest('hex');
+        const cacheDir = path.join(mediaDir, 'player-cache', 'remote-images');
+        const extensions = ['.png', '.jpg', '.jpeg', '.gif', '.webp', '.svg'];
+        const file = extensions.map(function (extension) { return hash + extension; }).find(function (name) { return fs.existsSync(path.join(cacheDir, name)); });
+        return file ? '/media/player-cache/remote-images/' + file : '';
+      };
       const payload = buildThumbnailPreviewPayload(slide, {
         baseUrl: webBaseUrl || (String(req.headers.host || '').trim() ? `${req.protocol}://${String(req.headers.host).trim()}` : ''),
-        fontStylesheetHref: getFontStylesheetHref(mediaDir)
+        fontStylesheetHref: getFontStylesheetHref(mediaDir),
+        getItem: getItem,
+        getCachedImagePath: getCachedImagePath
       });
 
       res.set('Cache-Control', 'no-store, no-cache, must-revalidate, proxy-revalidate');

test/player-render-helpers.test.js

@@ -99,9 +99,9 @@ test('shared iframe renderers size preview content explicitly', () => {
   assert.ok(playerHtmlRegionSource.includes('style="width:100%;height:100%;border:0;display:block;background:transparent;overflow:hidden;"'));
   assert.ok(playerWebpageRegionSource.includes('style="width:100%;height:100%;border:0;display:block;background:#fff;overflow:hidden;"'));
   assert.ok(playerRenderHelpersSource.includes('style="width:100%;height:100%;border:0;display:block;background:transparent;overflow:hidden;"'));
-  assert.ok(slideThumbnailPreviewSource.includes('style="width:100%;height:100%;border:0;display:block;background:#fff;overflow:hidden;"'));
+  assert.ok(slideThumbnailPreviewSource.includes('slide-preview-webpage-region'));
   assert.ok(slideThumbnailPreviewSource.includes('style="width:100%;height:100%;border:0;display:block;background:transparent;overflow:hidden;"'));
-  assert.ok(slideThumbnailsSource.includes('style="width:100%;height:100%;border:0;display:block;background:#fff;overflow:hidden;"'));
+  assert.ok(slideThumbnailsSource.includes('slide-preview-webpage-placeholder'));
   assert.ok(slideThumbnailsSource.includes('style="width:100%;height:100%;border:0;display:block;background:transparent;overflow:hidden;"'));
 });
 

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'"));
@@ -64,6 +69,8 @@ test('slide form queues editor image cleanup on save and close', () => {
 test('slide thumbnail previews treat image-only text as visible content', () => {
   assert.ok(slideThumbnailPreviewSource.includes('/<img\\b/i.test(raw)'));
   assert.ok(slideThumbnailsSource.includes('/<img\\b/i.test(raw)'));
+  assert.ok(slideThumbnailsSource.includes('getCachedImagePath'));
+  assert.ok(slideThumbnailsSource.includes('getThumbnailItem'));
 });
 
 test('popup preview falls back to iframe sizing rules', () => {