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
# Temporarily delete NewPage
  1. 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.)
  2. 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.)
  3. 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
# Temporarily delete the page/file (original title)
  1. Restore previous revisions up to (but not including) the point where the topic was changed.
  2. 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.
  3. 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

 See also categories: Media requiring a split up and Requested merges.

File:5.5-1 (Road sign).svg → File:RU road sign 5.5.svg[edit]

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 15:59, 31 July 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) 15:59, 31 July 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]

File:5.8-1 Russian road sign.svg → File:RU road sign 5.8.svg[edit]

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 16:11, 31 July 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) 16:11, 31 July 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]

File:RU road sign 1.3.1 (2).svg → File:RU road sign 1.3.1.svg[edit]

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 16:15, 31 July 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) 16:15, 31 July 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]

File:RU road sign 1.3.2 (2).svg → File:RU road sign 1.3.2.svg[edit]

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 16:18, 31 July 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) 16:18, 31 July 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]

File:7.2 (Road sign) ru.svg → File:RU road sign 7.2.svg[edit]

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 16:23, 31 July 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) 16:23, 31 July 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]

File:Hepatitis B virus v2.svg → File:Hepatitis B virus v2.svg, File:Hepatitis B virus v2.png and File:Hepatitis B virus v2.svg (2)[edit]

  • Request: [Split]
  • Reason:There's an SVG file, and two different PNG files in this mess of a file page. Each should have a file page of its own.

--Jonteemil (talk) 02:28, 31 July 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]

✓ Done.
  • Hepatitis B virus v2.svg
    Hepatitis B virus v2.svg
  • Hepatitis B virus v2 (2).svg
    Hepatitis B virus v2 (2).svg
  • Hepatitis B virus v2 (3).svg
    Hepatitis B virus v2 (3).svg
    • Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 16:30, 31 July 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]

    File:The Wizard of Oz (1925).webm → File:Wizard of Oz ( 1925).webm[edit]

    • Request: Merge
    • Reason: Better resolution of the same video. Please merge without any redirection.

    --OGPawlis (talk) 21:31, 1 August 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]

    ✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 15:40, 2 August 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) 15:40, 2 August 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]

    File:As I Lay Dying - Wacken Open Air 2011 (4).jpg → File:As I Lay Dying - Wacken Open Air 2011 (2).jpg[edit]

    ✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 03:00, 7 August 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) 03:00, 7 August 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]

    File:As I Lay Dying - Wacken Open Air 2011.jpg → File:As I Lay Dying - Wacken Open Air 2011 (cropped).jpg[edit]

    ✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 14:22, 8 August 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) 14:22, 8 August 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]

    File:Germann with Sircar and McGinley 2022 (edited) (2).png → File:Germann with Sircar and McGinley 2022 (edited).png[edit]

    ✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 21:10, 8 August 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]
    @[[User:Sreejithk2000 hello and thanks, but the target page's file history is corrupted now because its story shows that user:FMSky uploaded 2 new versions of the file before the merge and reverted to an old version after the merge which resulted a very odd situation I haven't seen before, please fix/clean-up the page's history, I thank you.
    @user:FMSky you asked in the last file's comment: " why is this constantly being split and merged again?" its answer: because I felt your version was not good, but yesterday I realized it as an improvement, also because I didn't put neither {{Please-do-not-overwrite-original-files}} or {{Please-do-not-overwrite-permanent-version}} or {{No-new-version}} on that page to notify that it should not be overwritten, so you didn't any wrong work, also your file's comment was just "tweak" and as a separate page after the split it just copied the rest of the information I entered as the original creator of the file, including link to my userpage, so the split resulted a page with wrong information which had to be corrected; hence to fix that wrong split, I requested to merge back it. -- FARHAAD 1992 (talk) 07:25, 9 August 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]
    so basically this version should be used now? https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/archive/c/c7/20230808213448%21Germann_with_Sircar_and_McGinley_2022_%28edited%29.png --FMSky (talk) 13:23, 9 August 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]
    if your mean of "should be used" is that it must become the current version/file its answer is yes and no, yes because it shows the image you have uploaded on 21 July 2023, no because its URL shows "20230808213448" which means the "21:34, 8 August 2023" file, not the "19:20, 21 July 2023" file you uploaded right after my file. -- FARHAAD 1992 (talk) 14:12, 9 August 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]

    @[[User:Sreejithk2000 Hello again, can you please continue cleaning-up this problem? it is a very sad situation for me, I have a few solutions to resolve this issue:

    solution #1
    a) restore the main page to the revision as of 04:45, 5 August 2023‎
    b) undelete File:Germann with Sircar and McGinley 2022 (edited) (2).png
    c) merge File:Germann with Sircar and McGinley 2022 (edited) (2).png into the main page
    solution #2
    a) restore the main page to the revision as of 19:20, 21 July 2023
    solution #3
    a) split these images again to make them separate items as I request before, then if it necessary clean-up duplicated files

    I prefer the solution #2 because it makes the page's history clean and uncluttered, although I don't know if restoring a page to an old revision does restore its *file history* or not.

    THANKS -- FARHAAD 1992 (talk) 14:32, 11 August 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]

    File:Ua 3.15 prohibitory-no vehicles weight over 7 tons.svg → File:UA road sign 3.15 (1991–2021).svg[edit]

    ✓ Done
    Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 20:55, 10 August 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]

    File:Ua 3.16 prohibitory-no vehicles over 5 tons per axle.svg → File:UA road sign 3.16 (2014–2021).svg[edit]

    ✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 21:01, 10 August 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) 21:01, 10 August 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]

    File:Ua 3.19 prohibitory-no vehicles over length 2.7m.svg → File:UA road sign 3.19 (1991–2021).svg[edit]

    ✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 21:03, 10 August 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) 21:03, 10 August 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]

    File:Ua 3.20 prohibitory-keep a distance.svg → File:UA road sign 3.20 (1991–2021).svg[edit]

    ✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 02:52, 11 August 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) 02:52, 11 August 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]

    See also[edit]

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