Customizing JSON

For advanced users, the Apple News plugin allows you to customize JSON. Each Apple News component that is handled by the plugin has one or more JSON specs for the main component JSON, layouts and/or styles. Some components have multiple specs for each of those if they have different visual appearances in different contexts. Editing these specs allows you to implement more advanced features from Apple News Format than can be handled via theme settings.

To get started, go to Customize JSON from the Apple News menu:

Next, select the component you wish to edit from the dropdown:

You will then see a form that shows the editable JSON specs for that component.

Some specs will include values in the format %%token%%. These are tokens that represent dynamic values that will be inserted into the JSON when the post is published to Apple News. These may be post-specific values or values that come from the theme. You may remove tokens if you want, but you cannot add new ones since there are a specific set of tokens that are supported by each spec.

When you have finished editing, click the Save JSON button. The new specs will now be used for that component when publishing posts to Apple News moving forward.

The following components and JSON specs are supported:

Advertisement

JSON

The main component JSON.

Layout

The default component layout.

Audio

JSON

The main component JSON.

Body

JSON

The main component JSON.

Layout

The default component layout.

Layout for Last Component

Layout settings for the last body component only.

Default Style

The default component style.

Drop Cap Style

The style for the first body component when drop caps are enabled.

Byline

JSON

The main component JSON.

Style

The default component style.

Layout

The default component layout.

Cover

JSON

The main component JSON.

Layout

The default component layout.

Below Text Layout

The component layout to use when the cover is positioned below text.

Divider

JSON

The main component JSON.

Layout

The default component layout.

Embed Web Video (Youtube/Vimeo)

JSON

The main component JSON.

Facebook

JSON

The main component JSON.

Gallery

JSON

The main component JSON.

Layout

The default component layout.

Heading

JSON

The main component JSON.

Layout

The default component layout.

Level 1 Style

The style for level 1 (H1) components.

Level 2 Style

The style for level 2 (H2) components.

Level 3 Style

The style for level 3 (H3) components.

Level 4 Style

The style for level 4 (H4) components.

Level 5 Style

The style for level 5 (H5) components.

Level 6 Style

The style for level 6 (H6) components.