Commons:History merging and splitting

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Visualization of the merging process.

Shortcuts: COM:HMS • COM:HISTMERGE This page provides information on issues and solutions relating pages and files that underwent cut-and-paste moves (which its history has to be put back together), and inappropriate merging/overwriting (of which its history needs to be split).

History merging[edit]

Shortcut

Because most users have the ability to use the move page function, cut-and-paste moves are usually done by people who are not aware of that function, or when the move function fails (e.g. because the target has history), and people who aren't aware of the Administrators Noticeboard forum to ask for help from an administrator.

When a cut-and-paste move is done, the page history of a page can be split among two or more different pages. This is very undesirable, because we need to keep the history with the content for copyright reasons. In most circumstances, administrators are able to fix this by merging page histories.

Instructions for admins
  1. Temporarily delete NewPage
  2. Move OldPage to NewPage, using the move functionality. (In case it is a file, you have to open the Move & Replace link in a new tab or disable AjaxQuickDelete in your preferences.) (Now the old history versions are the whole of the new title’s.)
  3. Undelete the NewPage page, by:
    1. Viewing the page/file history
    2. Clicking “View or restore … deleted edits?”, and
    3. Clicking on “Restore!”. (Now the new title’s history has both the old and new versions, including an extra copy of the most recent version of OldPage, created by the move tool.)
  4. At this stage, NewPage will only show the text “#REDIRECT NewPage” (assuming a redirect was the most recent version of OldPage, the NewPage page will now be showing whatever the most recent version of OldPage was). The last step is to revert (or RevisionDelete) to the last version of NewPage from before the move.

Special:MergeHistory makes it possible to automatically merge the history of two pages.


History splitting[edit]

Shortcut

Over time, pages or files may change from one underlying topic to a completely separate topic. Normally, this should be accomplished through moves of pages, or by reuploading an altered file on a slightly different title. However, if a user is unfamiliar with those processes they may simply change the subject of a page or file (overwriting the old). If this is not caught immediately it is very easy for the new topic to build up a substantial edit history of its own.

Instructions for admins
  1. Temporarily delete the page/file (original title)
  2. Restore previous revisions up to (but not including) the point where the topic was changed.
  3. Move (without redirect) the restored versions (old topic) to the desired new title. (In case it is a file, you have to open the Move & Replace link in a new tab or disable AjaxQuickDelete in your preferences.)
    • If there’s already a file or page under the new title and you wish to histmerge into it:
    a) select the “delete the existing article” option, while moving;
    b) restore deleted revisions of new title.
  4. Restore new revisions of new topic (still at original title).

A history merge could also be undone in this way.

Requesting a merge or split[edit]

To request a merge or split, fill the following template, and submit it at the bottom of this page. Remember, both files need to be of the same type. Merging of more than two files may also be possible in some cases. 


== [[:FILE/PAGE 1]] → [[:FILE/PAGE 2]] ==
* Request: [Split or Merge]
* Reason:
--~~~~
  • For merges, replace FILE/PAGE 2 with the page you want FILE/PAGE 1 contents to be merged into.
  • For splits, replace FILE/PAGE 2 with the new filename which you want the newer content to be moved from FILE/PAGE 1.
 

Add a new request

Shortcut

Current requests

View Edit Add topic

System-search.svg See also categories: Media requiring a split up and Requested merges.

File:Vista de Urandi.jpg → File:Vista de Urandi 2.jpg[edit]

  • Request: Split
  • Reason: @Central UDIII sobrescreveu a imagem anteriormente publicada por @Laobc. São imagens totalmente distintas, ainda que atribuídas ao mesmo lugar (Urandi).

--Luan (talk) 23:45, 5 January 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 16:32, 9 January 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 16:32, 9 January 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]

File:MTA NYC Bus M8 bus on 3rd Ave & 8th St.jpg → File:MTA NYC Bus M42 bus at 1100 Avenue of the Americas.jpg[edit]

  • Request: Split off current version
  • Reason: The description and the geotag are only accurate for the original version of this image, which is in the NoHo section of Lower Manhattan. The current version has a different fleet number (5235 vs. 5234) a different route (M42 vs M8), and is at 1100 Avenue of the Americas on 42nd Street.--DanTD (talk) 15:14, 8 January 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]
✓ Done —‍Mdaniels5757 (talk • contribs) 17:16, 8 January 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]
Thanks, but the wrong version is still showing up in the original categories. ----DanTD (talk) 17:59, 8 January 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]
By the way, purging my cache isn't working. --DanTD (talk) 18:06, 8 January 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]
@DanTD I did a null edit and it looks fixed now, please check again. —‍Mdaniels5757 (talk • contribs) 18:54, 8 January 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]
I just came from one. It's still showing the M42 Crosstown when it should be showing the original pic. -- DanTD (talk) 20:56, 8 January 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]
Just to be clear, when I go to the original picture it's fine. When I go to the categories attached to the original picture, they still show the replacement image. ----DanTD (talk) 21:06, 8 January 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]
Resolved after discussion on my talk. —‍Mdaniels5757 (talk • contribs) 15:29, 12 January 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. —‍Mdaniels5757 (talk • contribs) 15:29, 12 January 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]

File:Igreja Matriz Frente.jpg → File:Igreja Basílica Matriz de Santo Antônio.jpg[edit]

  • Request: Split
  • Reason: novamente a conta @Central UDIII: sobrescreveu uma fotografia.

--Luan (talk) 17:05, 9 January 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 18:25, 9 January 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 18:25, 9 January 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]

File:Anicia Juliana.jpg → File:Marble Portrait Bust of a Woman with a Scroll MET cl66.25.R.jpg[edit]

  • Request: Merge
  • Reason: Lower resolution version of the same image. The title is also misleading since we don't know for sure who is the woman. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Tintero21 (talk • contribs) 03:02, 11 January 2023 (UTC) (UTC)Reply[reply]
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. —‍Mdaniels5757 (talk • contribs) 03:25, 11 January 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]

File:Field modulation diagram.jpg → File:EPR_Field_Modulation.svg[edit]

  • Request: [Merge]
  • Reason: The files are for the same thing, the latter is just a better version of the former drawn by another user. I apologize if this is the incorrect way of linking these two together, and I was unsure if file type meant "images" or specifically they must both be Jpeg.I am kind of new to how the wikimedia commons works, sorry.

--EvilxFish (talk) 04:24, 13 January 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]

 Not done File in different formats cannot be merged. You can link them together using other versions field in the Information template. Ankry (talk) 23:17, 15 January 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. Ankry (talk) 23:18, 15 January 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]

File:Bust of Constans.jpg → File:Head of Emperor Constans (r. 337–50) MET DP337519.jpg[edit]

  • Request: Merge
  • Reason: Exact same image from the same source

--Tintero21 (talk) 05:24, 16 January 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Page merged to the duplicate. --Sreejith K (talk) 17:06, 20 January 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 17:06, 20 January 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]

File:Ancien magasin Old England.jpg → File:Ancien magasin Old England 2008.jpg[edit]

  • Request: [Split]
  • Reason: Split the older file with different scene as well as different date.

--JWilz12345 (Talk|Contrib's.) 10:29, 18 January 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 22:00, 18 January 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 22:00, 18 January 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]

See also[edit]

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