Add overflow handling: keep ordered content whole instead of rotating a window

The width budget split any oversized plugin by advancing a window each cycle.
That is right for interchangeable items — news headlines, odds, stock prices —
but wrong for ordered content: a league table showed ranks 1-6, then resumed at
7 two rotations later, which reads as out of order and out of context. Nobody
needs rank 23 in a ticker; they need the top of the table, every time.

overflow_mode chooses between them:

  rotate   — advance a window each cycle so everything is seen eventually
             (unchanged default)
  truncate — always show the start and drop the rest, keeping ordered content
             coherent. Records no window state, so every pass starts at the top.

Per-plugin vegas_overflow overrides the global setting, since one install has
both kinds of plugin. Also adds per-plugin vegas_max_width_screens, so content
that must stay whole can be given more room — or uncapped with 0 — without
lifting the cap on every ticker.

Applied on the test rig: f1-scoreboard and ledmatrix-leaderboard set to
truncate, and baseball given 4.5 screens because it was showing 8 of 9 games
when the whole slate needed only a little more room. Verified: F1 now reports
"the first 10 of 116 ... the rest are not shown", baseball has dropped out of
the budget log entirely, and stocks, odds-ticker and stock-news still rotate.

Also corrects the crop log, which claimed "window advances next cycle"
unconditionally and so misreported truncated crops. A test now pins the
behaviour behind the message: truncate must leave no offset recorded.

Co-Authored-By: Claude <noreply@anthropic.com>
Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_01KEZK1P1Q1fu5pcuVrkrCFZ

config/config.template.json

@@ -145,6 +145,7 @@
             "lead_in_width": 0,
             "plugins_per_cycle": 6,
             "max_plugin_width_ratio": 3.0,
+            "overflow_mode": "rotate",
             "dynamic_duration_enabled": true,
             "min_cycle_duration": 60,
             "max_cycle_duration": 240

src/vegas_mode/config.py

@@ -91,6 +91,18 @@ class VegasModeConfig:
     # letter floating between two unrelated plugins.
     min_cut_gap: int = 6
 
+    # What to do when a plugin's content exceeds its width budget.
+    #
+    #   "rotate"   — advance a window each cycle so everything is seen eventually.
+    #                Right for interchangeable items: news headlines, odds, stocks.
+    #   "truncate" — always show the start. Right for ordered content, where a
+    #                window into the middle is meaningless: a league table that
+    #                shows ranks 1-6 then resumes at 7 two rotations later reads
+    #                as out of order and out of context.
+    #
+    # Override per plugin with vegas_overflow.
+    overflow_mode: str = "rotate"
+
     # Cap on one plugin's share of a cycle, as a multiple of display width.
     # A single ticker returning 7,000px would otherwise hold the panel for over
     # two minutes. Overflow is deferred to later cycles rather than discarded.
@@ -148,6 +160,7 @@ class VegasModeConfig:
             plugins_per_cycle=int(vegas_config.get('plugins_per_cycle', 6)),
             max_plugin_width_ratio=float(
                 vegas_config.get('max_plugin_width_ratio', 3.0)),
+            overflow_mode=str(vegas_config.get('overflow_mode', 'rotate')),
             plugin_order=list(vegas_config.get('plugin_order', [])),
             excluded_plugins=set(vegas_config.get('excluded_plugins', [])),
             target_fps=int(vegas_config.get('target_fps', 125)),
@@ -179,6 +192,7 @@ class VegasModeConfig:
             'lead_in_width': self.lead_in_width,
             'plugins_per_cycle': self.plugins_per_cycle,
             'max_plugin_width_ratio': self.max_plugin_width_ratio,
+            'overflow_mode': self.overflow_mode,
             'plugin_order': self.plugin_order,
             'excluded_plugins': list(self.excluded_plugins),
             'target_fps': self.target_fps,
@@ -322,6 +336,11 @@ class VegasModeConfig:
             errors.append(
                 f"plugins_per_cycle must be <= 50, got {self.plugins_per_cycle}")
 
+        if self.overflow_mode not in ('rotate', 'truncate'):
+            errors.append(
+                "overflow_mode must be 'rotate' or 'truncate', "
+                f"got {self.overflow_mode!r}")
+
         if self.max_plugin_width_ratio < 0:
             errors.append(
                 "max_plugin_width_ratio must be >= 0 "
@@ -375,6 +394,8 @@ class VegasModeConfig:
         if 'max_plugin_width_ratio' in vegas_config:
             self.max_plugin_width_ratio = float(
                 vegas_config['max_plugin_width_ratio'])
+        if 'overflow_mode' in vegas_config:
+            self.overflow_mode = str(vegas_config['overflow_mode'])
         if 'plugin_order' in vegas_config:
             self.plugin_order = list(vegas_config['plugin_order'])
         if 'excluded_plugins' in vegas_config:

src/vegas_mode/plugin_adapter.py

@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ class PluginAdapter:
                     "[%s] Native content SUCCESS: %d images, %dpx total",
                     plugin_id, len(content), total_width
                 )
-                return self._finalize(content, plugin_id, 'native')
+                return self._finalize(content, plugin_id, 'native', plugin)
             logger.info("[%s] Native content returned None", plugin_id)
 
         # Try to get scroll_helper's cached image (for scrolling plugins like stocks/odds)
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ class PluginAdapter:
                 "[%s] ScrollHelper content SUCCESS: %d images, %dpx total",
                 plugin_id, len(content), total_width
             )
-            return self._finalize(content, plugin_id, 'scroll_helper')
+            return self._finalize(content, plugin_id, 'scroll_helper', plugin)
         if has_scroll_helper:
             logger.info("[%s] ScrollHelper content returned None", plugin_id)
 
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ class PluginAdapter:
                 "[%s] Fallback capture SUCCESS: %d images, %dpx total",
                 plugin_id, len(content), total_width
             )
-            return self._finalize(content, plugin_id, 'fallback')
+            return self._finalize(content, plugin_id, 'fallback', plugin)
 
         logger.warning(
             "[%s] NO CONTENT from any method (native=%s, scroll_helper=%s, fallback=tried)",
@@ -163,7 +163,8 @@ class PluginAdapter:
         return None
 
     def _finalize(
-        self, images: List[Image.Image], plugin_id: str, source: str
+        self, images: List[Image.Image], plugin_id: str, source: str,
+        plugin: Optional['BasePlugin'] = None
     ) -> Optional[List[Image.Image]]:
         """
         Trim dead space off a segment, then cache it.
@@ -190,7 +191,7 @@ class PluginAdapter:
             # turning off margin cropping should not let one plugin hold the
             # panel for minutes. Skipping it here previously let a 14,848px
             # segment through untouched.
-            kept = self._apply_width_budget(list(images), plugin_id)
+            kept = self._apply_width_budget(list(images), plugin_id, plugin)
             self._cache_content(plugin_id, kept)
             return kept
 
@@ -235,7 +236,7 @@ class PluginAdapter:
                 len(kept), dropped_blank
             )
 
-        kept = self._apply_width_budget(kept, plugin_id)
+        kept = self._apply_width_budget(kept, plugin_id, plugin)
 
         self._cache_content(plugin_id, kept)
         return kept
@@ -332,15 +333,74 @@ class PluginAdapter:
             threshold=self.config.trim_threshold,
         )
 
-    def _width_budget(self) -> int:
+    def _plugin_setting(self, plugin: 'BasePlugin', key: str):
-        """Maximum columns one plugin may occupy in a cycle. 0 means unlimited."""
+        """Read a per-plugin config override, or None if absent."""
+        plugin_cfg = getattr(plugin, 'config', None)
+        if not isinstance(plugin_cfg, dict):
+            return None
+        value = plugin_cfg.get(key)
+        return None if value in (None, '') else value
+
+    def resolve_overflow_mode(self, plugin: 'BasePlugin', plugin_id: str) -> str:
+        """
+        How to handle content that exceeds this plugin's width budget.
+
+        'rotate' advances a window each cycle so everything is seen eventually,
+        which suits interchangeable items. 'truncate' always shows the start,
+        which suits ordered content — a league table that shows ranks 1-6 and
+        then resumes at 7 two rotations later reads as out of order, and nobody
+        needs rank 23 in a ticker anyway.
+
+        Per-plugin ``vegas_overflow`` wins over the global ``overflow_mode``.
+        """
+        raw = self._plugin_setting(plugin, 'vegas_overflow')
+        if raw is not None:
+            candidate = str(raw).strip().lower()
+            if candidate in ('rotate', 'truncate'):
+                return candidate
+            logger.warning(
+                "[%s] Invalid vegas_overflow %r, expected 'rotate' or 'truncate'",
+                plugin_id, raw
+            )
+        return self.config.overflow_mode
+
+    def _width_budget(self, plugin: Optional['BasePlugin'] = None,
+                      plugin_id: str = '') -> int:
+        """
+        Maximum columns one plugin may occupy in a cycle. 0 means unlimited.
+
+        A per-plugin ``vegas_max_width_screens`` overrides the global ratio, so
+        content that has to stay whole can be given room (or uncapped with 0)
+        without lifting the cap on every ticker.
+        """
         ratio = self.config.max_plugin_width_ratio
+
+        if plugin is not None:
+            raw = self._plugin_setting(plugin, 'vegas_max_width_screens')
+            if raw is not None:
+                try:
+                    candidate = float(raw)
+                except (TypeError, ValueError):
+                    logger.warning(
+                        "[%s] Invalid vegas_max_width_screens %r, ignoring",
+                        plugin_id, raw
+                    )
+                else:
+                    if candidate >= 0:
+                        ratio = candidate
+                    else:
+                        logger.warning(
+                            "[%s] vegas_max_width_screens must be >= 0, got %s",
+                            plugin_id, candidate
+                        )
+
         if ratio <= 0:
             return 0
         return int(self.display_width * ratio)
 
     def _apply_width_budget(
-        self, images: List[Image.Image], plugin_id: str
+        self, images: List[Image.Image], plugin_id: str,
+        plugin: Optional['BasePlugin'] = None
     ) -> List[Image.Image]:
         """
         Hold one plugin to its share of a cycle.
@@ -359,7 +419,9 @@ class PluginAdapter:
             Images that fit the budget, starting from the plugin's current
             rotation offset.
         """
-        budget = self._width_budget()
+        budget = self._width_budget(plugin, plugin_id)
+        mode = (self.resolve_overflow_mode(plugin, plugin_id)
+                if plugin is not None else self.config.overflow_mode)
 
         # Count the gaps the compositor will actually insert, not just the
         # pixels of the rows — otherwise a plugin with many rows quietly
@@ -377,9 +439,15 @@ class PluginAdapter:
             return images
 
         if len(images) == 1:
-            return [self._crop_to_budget(images[0], budget, plugin_id)]
+            return [self._crop_to_budget(images[0], budget, plugin_id, mode)]
 
-        start = self._item_offsets.get(plugin_id, 0) % len(images)
+        if mode == 'truncate':
+            # Ordered content: always show from the top. Deliberately does not
+            # advance the offset, so the same opening items appear every time
+            # rather than the viewer being shown the middle of a ranked list.
+            start = 0
+        else:
+            start = self._item_offsets.get(plugin_id, 0) % len(images)
         selected: List[Image.Image] = []
         used = 0
         consumed = 0
@@ -397,17 +465,24 @@ class PluginAdapter:
             used += cost
             consumed += 1
 
-        self._item_offsets[plugin_id] = (start + consumed) % len(images)
+        if mode == 'truncate':
-
+            logger.info(
-        logger.info(
+                "[%s] Width budget %dpx: showing the first %d of %d row(s) "
-            "[%s] Width budget %dpx: showing %d of %d row(s) (%dpx incl. gaps) "
+                "(%dpx incl. gaps); the rest are not shown (overflow=truncate)",
-            "from offset %d; remainder deferred to a later cycle",
+                plugin_id, budget, len(selected), len(images), used
-            plugin_id, budget, len(selected), len(images), used, start
+            )
-        )
+        else:
+            self._item_offsets[plugin_id] = (start + consumed) % len(images)
+            logger.info(
+                "[%s] Width budget %dpx: showing %d of %d row(s) (%dpx incl. gaps) "
+                "from offset %d; remainder deferred to a later cycle",
+                plugin_id, budget, len(selected), len(images), used, start
+            )
         return selected
 
     def _crop_to_budget(
-        self, img: Image.Image, budget: int, plugin_id: str
+        self, img: Image.Image, budget: int, plugin_id: str,
+        mode: str = 'rotate'
     ) -> Image.Image:
         """
         Narrow a single oversized image to the budget, advancing a window
@@ -416,9 +491,14 @@ class PluginAdapter:
         The cut is snapped to the nearest blank column so it does not slice
         through a glyph or logo and leave half a character at the panel edge.
         """
-        offset = self._item_offsets.get(plugin_id, 0)
+        if mode == 'truncate':
-        if offset >= img.width:
+            # Always the start of the strip, so a ranked table is never entered
+            # from the middle.
             offset = 0
+        else:
+            offset = self._item_offsets.get(plugin_id, 0)
+            if offset >= img.width:
+                offset = 0
 
         # Cut only where the plugin left a real gap between items. Snapping to
         # any blank column used to pick the single-column gaps between
@@ -435,11 +515,13 @@ class PluginAdapter:
             # (words, ticker entries); it would be wrong to let a solid image
             # escape the cap in its name.
             end = min(offset + budget, img.width)
-            self._item_offsets[plugin_id] = 0 if end >= img.width else end
+            if mode != 'truncate':
+                self._item_offsets[plugin_id] = 0 if end >= img.width else end
             logger.info(
                 "[%s] Width budget %dpx: cropped continuous %dpx image to "
-                "[%d:%d] (no item gaps of %dpx+ to align to)",
+                "[%d:%d] (no item gaps of %dpx+ to align to)%s",
-                plugin_id, budget, img.width, offset, end, min_run
+                plugin_id, budget, img.width, offset, end, min_run,
+                "" if mode != 'truncate' else "; showing the start only"
             )
             return img.crop((offset, 0, end, img.height))
 
@@ -456,13 +538,16 @@ class PluginAdapter:
             # because the alternative is cutting through an item.
             end = max(within) if within else min(later)
 
-        # Next cycle resumes where this one stopped; wrap when the strip ends.
+        if mode != 'truncate':
-        self._item_offsets[plugin_id] = 0 if end >= img.width else end
+            # Next cycle resumes where this one stopped; wrap when the strip ends.
+            self._item_offsets[plugin_id] = 0 if end >= img.width else end
 
         logger.info(
             "[%s] Width budget %dpx: cropped single %dpx image to [%d:%d] "
-            "(%dpx) at item boundaries, window advances next cycle",
+            "(%dpx) at item boundaries, %s",
-            plugin_id, budget, img.width, start, end, end - start
+            plugin_id, budget, img.width, start, end, end - start,
+            "showing the start only (overflow=truncate)"
+            if mode == 'truncate' else "window advances next cycle"
         )
         return img.crop((start, 0, end, img.height))
 

test/test_vegas_density.py

@@ -1509,3 +1509,131 @@ class TestDeferredDraining:
         p.extend_scroll_content()
         assert p.drain_deferred() is True
         assert p.drain_deferred() is True
+
+
+class TestOverflowMode:
+    """
+    Rotating a window through content only makes sense when the items are
+    interchangeable. For ordered content it shows the middle of a ranked list —
+    ranks 1-6, then 7 onwards two rotations later, which reads as out of order.
+    """
+
+    class Cfg:
+        def __init__(self, cfg=None):
+            self.config = cfg or {}
+
+        def get_vegas_content(self):
+            return None
+
+    def test_default_is_rotate(self):
+        adapter = adapter_with()
+        assert adapter.resolve_overflow_mode(self.Cfg(), 'p') == 'rotate'
+
+    def test_global_mode_applies(self):
+        adapter = adapter_with(overflow_mode='truncate')
+        assert adapter.resolve_overflow_mode(self.Cfg(), 'p') == 'truncate'
+
+    def test_per_plugin_override_wins(self):
+        adapter = adapter_with(overflow_mode='rotate')
+        plugin = self.Cfg({'vegas_overflow': 'truncate'})
+        assert adapter.resolve_overflow_mode(plugin, 'p') == 'truncate'
+
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize('bad', ['sideways', '', None, 5])
+    def test_invalid_override_falls_back(self, bad):
+        adapter = adapter_with(overflow_mode='rotate')
+        plugin = self.Cfg({'vegas_overflow': bad})
+        assert adapter.resolve_overflow_mode(plugin, 'p') == 'rotate'
+
+    def test_truncate_always_shows_the_same_opening_rows(self):
+        # The reported problem: a ranked list should not resume from the middle.
+        adapter = adapter_with(content_padding=0, max_plugin_width_ratio=1.0,
+                               intra_plugin_gap=0, min_content_separation=0,
+                               overflow_mode='truncate')
+        rows = [canvas([(0, 200)], width=200) for _ in range(8)]
+        plugin = NativePlugin(rows)
+
+        first = adapter.get_content(plugin, 'ranks')
+        adapter.invalidate_cache('ranks')
+        second = adapter.get_content(plugin, 'ranks')
+        assert len(first) == len(second)
+        assert 'ranks' not in adapter._item_offsets, "must not advance a window"
+
+    def test_rotate_still_advances(self):
+        adapter = adapter_with(content_padding=0, max_plugin_width_ratio=1.0,
+                               intra_plugin_gap=0, min_content_separation=0,
+                               overflow_mode='rotate')
+        rows = [canvas([(0, 200)], width=200) for _ in range(8)]
+        adapter.get_content(NativePlugin(rows), 'ticker')
+        assert adapter._item_offsets.get('ticker', 0) > 0
+
+    def test_truncate_on_a_single_wide_image_starts_at_zero(self):
+        adapter = adapter_with(content_padding=0, max_plugin_width_ratio=1.0,
+                               overflow_mode='truncate')
+        strip = canvas([(0, 5000)], width=5000)
+        plugin = NativePlugin([strip])
+        first = adapter.get_content(plugin, 'table')[0]
+        adapter.invalidate_cache('table')
+        second = adapter.get_content(plugin, 'table')[0]
+        assert first.tobytes() == second.tobytes(), "window must not advance"
+
+
+class TestPerPluginWidthBudget:
+    class Cfg:
+        def __init__(self, cfg=None):
+            self.config = cfg or {}
+
+        def get_vegas_content(self):
+            return None
+
+    def test_global_ratio_by_default(self):
+        adapter = adapter_with(max_plugin_width_ratio=3.0)
+        assert adapter._width_budget(self.Cfg(), 'p') == DISPLAY_W * 3
+
+    def test_per_plugin_override_widens(self):
+        adapter = adapter_with(max_plugin_width_ratio=3.0)
+        plugin = self.Cfg({'vegas_max_width_screens': 8})
+        assert adapter._width_budget(plugin, 'p') == DISPLAY_W * 8
+
+    def test_per_plugin_zero_means_uncapped(self):
+        adapter = adapter_with(max_plugin_width_ratio=3.0)
+        plugin = self.Cfg({'vegas_max_width_screens': 0})
+        assert adapter._width_budget(plugin, 'p') == 0
+
+    def test_uncapped_plugin_keeps_all_its_content(self):
+        adapter = adapter_with(content_padding=0, max_plugin_width_ratio=1.0)
+
+        class Wide(NativePlugin):
+            def __init__(self, images):
+                super().__init__(images)
+                self.config = {'vegas_max_width_screens': 0}
+
+        strip = canvas([(0, 6000)], width=6000)
+        assert adapter.get_content(Wide([strip]), 'whole')[0].width == 6000
+
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize('bad', ['wide', -1, None, ''])
+    def test_invalid_override_falls_back_to_global(self, bad):
+        adapter = adapter_with(max_plugin_width_ratio=2.0)
+        plugin = self.Cfg({'vegas_max_width_screens': bad})
+        assert adapter._width_budget(plugin, 'p') == DISPLAY_W * 2
+
+    def test_no_plugin_uses_the_global(self):
+        adapter = adapter_with(max_plugin_width_ratio=2.0)
+        assert adapter._width_budget() == DISPLAY_W * 2
+
+    def test_truncate_single_image_never_records_an_offset(self):
+        # The behavioural guarantee behind the log message: no window state is
+        # kept, so every pass starts at the top.
+        adapter = adapter_with(content_padding=0, max_plugin_width_ratio=1.0,
+                               overflow_mode='truncate')
+        strip = canvas([(0, 5000)], width=5000)
+        for _ in range(4):
+            adapter.invalidate_cache('table')
+            adapter.get_content(NativePlugin([strip]), 'table')
+        assert 'table' not in adapter._item_offsets
+
+    def test_rotate_single_image_does_record_an_offset(self):
+        adapter = adapter_with(content_padding=0, max_plugin_width_ratio=1.0,
+                               overflow_mode='rotate')
+        strip = canvas([(0, 5000)], width=5000)
+        adapter.get_content(NativePlugin([strip]), 'ticker')
+        assert adapter._item_offsets.get('ticker', 0) > 0

web_interface/blueprints/api_v3.py

@@ -926,7 +926,7 @@ def save_main_config():
                        'vegas_intra_plugin_gap', 'vegas_render_width_pct',
                        'vegas_min_content_separation', 'vegas_min_cut_gap',
                        'vegas_continuous_scroll', 'vegas_extend_threshold_screens',
-                       'vegas_smooth_scroll']
+                       'vegas_smooth_scroll', 'vegas_overflow_mode']
 
         if any(k in data for k in vegas_fields):
             if 'display' not in current_config:
@@ -951,6 +951,16 @@ def save_main_config():
 
             # max_plugin_width_ratio is the one fractional setting, so it is
             # handled outside the integer loop below.
+            if data.get('vegas_overflow_mode') not in ('', None):
+                mode = str(data['vegas_overflow_mode']).strip().lower()
+                if mode not in ('rotate', 'truncate'):
+                    return jsonify({
+                        'status': 'error',
+                        'message': "Invalid value for vegas_overflow_mode: "
+                                   "must be 'rotate' or 'truncate'"
+                    }), 400
+                vegas_config['overflow_mode'] = mode
+
             if data.get('vegas_extend_threshold_screens') not in ('', None):
                 try:
                     screens = float(data['vegas_extend_threshold_screens'])

web_interface/templates/v3/partials/display.html

@@ -547,6 +547,14 @@
                                    class="form-control">
                         </div>
 
+                        <div class="form-group" id="setting-display-vegas_overflow_mode" data-setting-key="display.vegas_scroll.overflow_mode">
+                            <label for="vegas_overflow_mode" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">When A Plugin Is Too Wide{{ ui.help_tip('What to do when a plugin has more content than its width allowance.\nRotate through it: show a different slice each time round, so everything is seen eventually. Right for interchangeable items like news headlines, odds or stock prices.\nShow the start only: always display from the beginning and drop the rest. Right for ordered content — a league table that shows ranks 1-6 and then resumes at 7 two rotations later reads as out of order.\nDefault: rotate. Override for one plugin with vegas_overflow in its own settings.', 'Overflow Handling') }}</label>
+                            <select id="vegas_overflow_mode" name="vegas_overflow_mode" class="form-control">
+                                <option value="rotate" {% if main_config.display.get('vegas_scroll', {}).get('overflow_mode', 'rotate') == 'rotate' %}selected{% endif %}>Rotate through it (default)</option>
+                                <option value="truncate" {% if main_config.display.get('vegas_scroll', {}).get('overflow_mode', 'rotate') == 'truncate' %}selected{% endif %}>Show the start only</option>
+                            </select>
+                        </div>
+
                         <div class="form-group" id="setting-display-vegas_max_plugin_width_ratio" data-setting-key="display.vegas_scroll.max_plugin_width_ratio">
                             <label for="vegas_max_plugin_width_ratio" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">Max Plugin Width (screens){{ ui.help_tip('Caps how much of one cycle a single plugin may occupy, measured in screen widths (0–20).\nDefault: 3. A long ticker such as a news feed or leaderboard is trimmed to this and the remainder shown on later cycles, so one plugin cannot hold the display for minutes. Set 0 for no limit.', 'Max Plugin Width') }}</label>
                             <input type="number"