Commons:History merging and splitting

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

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COM:MERGE

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 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.) Undelete the NewPage page, by: Viewing the page/file history Clicking “View or restore … deleted edits?”, and 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.) 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

Shortcut
COM:SPLIT

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) Restore previous revisions up to (but not including) the point where the topic was changed. 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. 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

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

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COM:HMSR

Current requests

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

FILE:Staudenkopf.jpg → File:Staudenkopf (2006-07-01).jpg

• Request: [Split]
• Reason: Obvousily two different photos made by the same author. --Arnd (talk) 07:03, 7 September 2020 (UTC)

 Done, somewhat sloppily. (I'm still new at this :) --AntiCompositeNumber (talk) 18:02, 7 September 2020 (UTC)

This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. AntiCompositeNumber (talk) 18:02, 7 September 2020 (UTC)

Aschroet couldn't habe known that I am even able to speak German. Otherwise he would have talked to me first. --Elop (talk) 20:28, 7 September 2020 (UTC)

File:ProkhorovkaMonument.jpg

• Request: [Split]
• Reason: Current image is awesome, but the previous ones (each by a different user) are also good and deserve to be reinstated.

--—capmo (talk) 01:10, 11 September 2020 (UTC)

 Done - Split to File:ProkhorovkaMonument.jpg, File:ProkhorovkaMonument (2).jpg and File:ProkhorovkaMonument (3).jpg --Sreejith K (talk) 15:10, 11 September 2020 (UTC)

This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 15:10, 11 September 2020 (UTC)

File:CoA Ecumenical Patriarchate Constantinople.png → File:CoA of the Ecumenical Patriarchate Constantinople (St. George's Cathedral of Istanbul version).png

• Request: Split
• Reason: the latest image it is not a new version of the previous image but of another which is obviously an adaptation from File:Byzantine eagle.JPG. Moreover, the latest image was made by TheTexasNationalist99, while the first version was made by Sdcheung; however, Sdcheung is still considered as the author in the summary. Therefore, this latest image should be split.

--Veverve (talk) 14:06, 11 September 2020 (UTC)

 Done --Sreejith K (talk) 17:06, 13 September 2020 (UTC)

@Sreejithk2000: I believe that for this version the author in the summary should be TheTexasNationalist99, and the date in the summary 16:40, 15 May 2020. Veverve (talk) 17:12, 13 September 2020 (UTC)

 Done - Corrected. Usually its the requesters responsibility to make all required corrections after the file has been split. --Sreejith K (talk) 04:21, 14 September 2020 (UTC)

This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 04:21, 14 September 2020 (UTC)

File:Atomium.jpg → File:Atomium ca. 2011.jpg and two others

• Request: Split
• Reason: Multiple unrelated files by different uploaders. Good versions are needed to be split. For the version by Wojtekskalski: File:Atomium ca. 2011.jpg. For the version by Luis Alfonso Escudero: File:Atomium (Jun 2009).jpg. For the version by Chicmusic: File:Atomium (2014-08-26).jpg. The first one is based on the upload date (since it does not have timestamp), while the last two are based on their timestamps.

--JWilz12345 (Talk|Contrib's.) 13:59, 12 September 2020 (UTC)

I split it as per the names you suggested. But still currently it has three versions. Can you suggest names for them as well?

I don't have suggestions for the three files. But since they seem to be like "models" plus a "sketch", I didn't include them among those suggested to be split. JWilz12345 (Talk|Contrib's.) 17:17, 13 September 2020 (UTC)

Perhaps the first one would be File:Illustration of parts of Atomium.jpg? The other two seem the same (only the current is a modified ver. of the second one) JWilz12345 (Talk|Contrib's.) 17:20, 13 September 2020 (UTC)

 Done --Sreejith K (talk) 04:17, 14 September 2020 (UTC)

This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 04:17, 14 September 2020 (UTC)

Thank you @Sreejithk2000: for granting my request. JWilz12345 (Talk|Contrib's.) 08:26, 14 September 2020 (UTC)

File:POL PZPR logo.svg → File:POL PZPR logo (2).svg

• Request: [Split]
• Reason: COM:OVERWRITE

--Jonteemil (talk) 10:30, 15 September 2020 (UTC)

 Done --Sreejith K (talk) 21:16, 15 September 2020 (UTC)

This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 21:16, 15 September 2020 (UTC)

File:KIA logo2.svg → File:KIA logo3.svg

• Request: [Split]
• Reason: COM:OVERWRITE

--Jonteemil (talk) 10:31, 15 September 2020 (UTC)

 Done --Sreejith K (talk) 21:18, 15 September 2020 (UTC)

This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 21:18, 15 September 2020 (UTC)

File:KIA motors.png → File:KIA motors (without text).png

• Request: [Split]
• Reason: COM:OVERWRITE

--Jonteemil (talk) 10:33, 15 September 2020 (UTC)

 Done --Sreejith K (talk) 21:20, 15 September 2020 (UTC)

This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 21:20, 15 September 2020 (UTC)

File:Velvet Revolver live in London 5 June 2007 01.jpg → File:Velvet Revolver live in London 5 June 2007.jpg

• Request: Merge
• Reason: same image uploaded by original author, the first link's image should be kept and added to the second link, thanks--Editor-1 (talk) 06:50, 17 September 2020 (UTC)

@Editor-1: The second one is a croped part of the first one. Not shure if they should be merged?  — Johannes Kalliauer - Talk | Contributions 11:43, 20 September 2020 (UTC)

@JoKalliauer: Hello, I see no problem in overwriting target page's image with source's image, me or other users can crop original/source image which is higher quality and overwrite it to the target page or one new page, what are important here are the correct and complete description, upload log, categories, and older history of the target page, after merging them, doing one crop will provide such information in the cropped image's page automatically; thanks. -- Editor-1 (talk) 14:08, 20 September 2020 (UTC)

File:Boundary Stone NHLE1136466.jpg → File:Estate boundary stone near White Nancy.jpg

• Request: [Merge]
• Reason: duplicate upload in error

--Dave.Dunford (talk) 14:44, 18 September 2020 (UTC)

 Done  — Johannes Kalliauer - Talk | Contributions 11:43, 20 September 2020 (UTC)

This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. Johannes Kalliauer - Talk | Contributions 11:43, 20 September 2020 (UTC)

File:St. Winifred's Well, Woolston - geograph.org.uk - 44812.jpg → File:St Winifreds Well Woolston.JPG

• Request: Merge
• Reason: same photo uploaded direct to Wikipedia and also transferred from Geograph.org.uk; I am the photographer

--Dave.Dunford (talk) 16:15, 18 September 2020 (UTC)

@Dave.Dunford: is File:St._Winifred's_Well,_Woolston_-_geograph.org.uk_-_44812.jpg speedy deleting as {{Duplicate}} fine ?  — Johannes Kalliauer - Talk | Contributions 11:43, 20 September 2020 (UTC)

Fine by me, but that version of the photo is used on some other wikis. Dave.Dunford (talk) 12:01, 20 September 2020 (UTC)

This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment.  — Johannes Kalliauer - Talk | Contributions 17:36, 20 September 2020 (UTC)

See also

• Commons:Administrators' noticeboard
• Category:Media requiring a split up