Purple DS Web Newsstand: Activation and Settings

Modified on Wed, 26 Aug, 2020 at 5:43 PM

You have the option of displaying your content in a browser via the web newsstand. As a result, your content will be displayed on the web simmilar to the app (including cover and "read" button). In addition, you have several options to provie access to your web newsstand.

All issues can be opened in a browser with a read mode. All assets like videos, MP3, animations or links are available to your readers. You do not have to build a separate issue for the web. If you want to offer a specific web version of an issue please check here how to upload this version of an issue to Purple DS Manager.

The styling of the web newsstand can be configured by a CSS file which is part of the dynamic content. You will find a template in the Manager. Translations for additional languages can be added in the translations section of the menu.

The web newsstand comes with the following elements:

Opened issue within browser window

Overview of all issues of the first publication (see the order in Purple DS Manager). The arrow on the right side will open a drop-down list of all available publications assigned to the app resp. web newsstand.
This text is set in the description of the publication within Purple DS Manager.
Issue incl. Cover image, page number and "Read" button to open the issue
Feedback Mail Button - to be activated within web settings in "Basic Settings"
Zooming: Open this feature by clicking on the magnifying glass. With the help of the scale you can enlarge the contents (indicator down) and reduce them (indicator up).
Arrows on the right and left side are used to browse through the pages
Table of content: This strip can be opened and closed by the list icon toggle. A click on one of the thumbnails will open the chosen page.
Here you can close the issue and go back to the web newsstand.

Instructions

Activating and setting up your web newsstand :

In Order to activate the web newsstand you'll edit the basic settings of the relevant app in the Purple DS Manager.

Below you'll find an overview of the most important steps and settings:

Activate Web Newsstand
Activate the checkbox in order to activate the web newsstand. More options available at the end of this manager menu under "Web".
Web Newsstand URL
You'll need have to add an URL extension to create a valid URL at http://kiosk.purplemanager.com/<URL Extension>. It's arbitrary so you can enter any extension you choose e.g. the App Name.

To see the preview of an article or issue in your browser, please add the suffix: ?preview=true,
Sample URL for the preview version of the web newsstand:
http://kiosk.purplemanager.com/demoappsprylab?preview=true

(Note: Domains for Sharing- This option is relevant for content published on an additional domain managed by you. It is not required for configuring the web newsstand.)
Web Newsstand Content Fit Strategy This option sets the Content Fit Strategy for the web newsstand.
- MAGAZINE - This strategy is best for long pages, to scroll down. Each page will be spread to the full width of the browser window, eg. 1024px. The length will be scaled proportionally.
- CONTENT FIT INSIDE - This strategy wants to re-size all content. With this strategy, all content is reduced so that it is displayed completely in the browser window. The maximum size (height or width) is decisive for displaying the corresponding proportionally correct size of the page.
- PDF - This strategy is used for PDF content as it is typically double-sided. Since desktop browsers usually open in landscape format, both sides of a double page are displayed. If the browser window becomes narrower, e.g. the aspect ratio changes to portrait format, only one page of the double page will be displayed (starting with the left page) and the right page can be reached by scrolling to the right.
Web Newsstand Login Type
Currently, there is no standard payment interface for purchases in the web newsstand.
As an alternative to a payment solution you can choose between different options for a login to the web newsstand:
- NONE - The web newsstand will be opened without a login and all published issues and publications will be available.
- COUPON - In Purple DS Manager you can create coupon codes and share them with your readers. When you read this code at the start screen you can see all assigned issues and publications.
- ENTITLEMENT - Purple DS Entitlement offers you the opportunity to provide your readers with a login. As an alternative, you can connect your own entitlement system with Purple DS Manager. When they open the web newsstand they enter their username and password. When they are logged in successfully they can see and read all assigned issues and publications.
- ENTITLEMENT-OPTIONAL - With this option you can mix free and "entitled" content. When a user opens the web news they can see all free issues. If the user has an account for the entitled section he can log in and get all assigned and "entitled" content. The attached issues need to be flagged "Entitled".
Web Newsstand Styles URL
As a default, those settings are saved in a CSS file inside the dynamic content As an alternative, you can save the data on your own server. Please enter the URL of the files here, so it will be used for the web newsstand.
Web Newsstand Feedback Mail
This option activates a button in the web newsstand so that users can send an email if they have technical issues or feedback for you. The recipient mail address and all texts are set and managed within the dynamic content. Please check here to see how these files are created.
Web Newsstand Show Purchasable Issues
With this option, all issues marked as "paid content" will be visible on the web newsstand. The full version of these issues is available for an individual payment solution.
Web Newsstand Force Purchase
If you activate this option, a separate window is always opened before opening a web issue to query or check the purchase. So the purchase URL entered below is always displayed, regardless of whether the user has already purchased the issue or not. By default this option is turned off.
Web Newsstand Purchase URL
When connecting to a payment provider, this URL will be used as an entry point for individual payment processes from the newsstand view. Users will see a "Buy" button instead of the "Read" button. The "buy" button leads to the specified URL.

The requested "issueId", "issueNo" and the "token" of the registered user are being submitted as query parameters (see technical documentation).
You can enter in this field a web URI (http:// or https://) or a relative path to an HTML file within the dynamic content (for individual HTML design).
The request parameter "purple_web_kiosk_target" can be used to control how the URL is opened.
- Default (without this request parameter): URL is opened in an iFrame in the web newsstand.
- _blank means that the URL is opened in a new tab or window
  Example: http://www.sprylab.com?purple_web_kiosk_target=_blank
- _self means that the URL is opened in the same tab. (This will leave the web newsstand.)
  Example: http://www.sprylab.com?purple_web_kiosk_target=_self
Web Newsstand Purchase Preview URL
This URL is provided when a user wants to start the purchase process from within a preview version of an issue marked as "paid content". This URL can be opened when a page is reached in the preview issue in which "Show Purchase Suggestion" has been activated.
You can enter in this field a web URI (http:// or https://) or a relative path to an HTML file within the dynamic content (for individual HTML design). As well you can use the request parameter "purple_web_kiosk_target" as described above.
Web Newsstand Subscription URL
This URL is for individual subscription processes.
You can enter in this field a web URI (http:// or https://) or a relative path to an HTML file within the dynamic content (for individual HTML design). As well you can use the request parameter "purple_web_kiosk_target" as described above.
Web Newsstand Login URL
This URL will be used as an alternative entry point for the login process when starting from the newsstand view. So you can bring your individual entitlement solution to the web newsstand.
You can enter in this field a web URL (http:// or https://) or a relative path to an HTML file within the dynamic content (for individual HTML design). As well you can use the request parameter "purple_web_kiosk_target" as described above.
Web Newsstand Logout URL
This URL will be used as an alternative exit point after logging out from the web newsstand.
You can enter in this field a web URI (http:// or https://) or a relative path to an HTML file within the dynamic content (for individual HTML design). As well you can use the request parameter "purple_web_kiosk_target" as described above.
Forward Mobile Devices to App Store
When you activate this option, mobile devices will be forward to the app-store on access. Therefore you need to provide the app-store links in the "basic settings/select your target platform".
Save - Please save all settings you made. As the changes do not affect the apps, a rebuild is not neccessary. Just reload the website in the browser. Please note that there may be some data stored in the cache of the browser. Empty the cache to make sure all data and settings will be reloaded