Jump to content

Commons:History merging and splitting

From Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository
Translate this page; This page contains changes which are not marked for translation.
Other languages:
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

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

File:Logo asahi.svg → File:Asahi logo.svg

[edit]

--114.10.47.194 10:56, 10 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 17:04, 13 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 17:04, 13 October 2025 (UTC)

File:Polish road sign D-42-"built-up area"; Znak.svg → File:PL road sign D-42.svg

[edit]
  • Request: Merge
  • Reason: Unnecessary duplication. The latter image is a more correct version of a Polish road sign I created.

--WWBM (talk) 19:41, 13 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 20:21, 13 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 20:21, 13 October 2025 (UTC)

File:Znak d43.svg → File:PL road sign D-43.svg

[edit]
  • Request: Merge
  • Reason: Unnecessary duplication. The latter image is a more correct version of a Polish road sign I created.

--WWBM (talk) 19:43, 13 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 20:21, 13 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 20:21, 13 October 2025 (UTC)

File:Rep. Zia Alonto A. Adiong (19th Congress).jpg → File:Rep. Ziaur-Rahman Adiong (19th Congress).jpg

[edit]
  • Request: Merge
  • Reason: Please merge this photo together because this is the latest portrait of Zia Alonto Adiong during the 19th Congress of the Philippines. For example the photo of File:Rep. Pinpin Uy (20th Congress).jpg

— Preceding unsigned comment added by Toniker0501 (talk • contribs) 00:41, 14 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

 Not done - Non identical photos. --Sreejith K (talk) 15:35, 14 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 15:35, 14 October 2025 (UTC)

Request for clarification and restoration - Nguyen Dinh Khang (actor)

[edit]

Hello,

We are from Dinh Khang Supporters, and we recently created a Wikipedia article for actor Nguyen Dinh Khang.

Our intention was solely to build an informative and verifiable profile recognizing his work and contributions in film and television not for advertising or promotion. The article was compiled using publicly available and verifiable sources.

We noticed that the page and the image file were deleted. Could you please clarify the specific reason for the removal? If there were issues with notability, tone, or sourcing, we would be happy to revise the content accordingly and resubmit it following Wikipedia’s guidelines.

We truly appreciate your time and your work maintaining Wikipedia’s quality and neutrality, and we hope to restore the page in compliance with the community standards.

Thank you for your consideration,

Dinh Khang Supporters Sunhanvieniutu (talk) 17:34, 18 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

File:Logo of Temasek Holdings.svg → File:TemasekHoldings logo.svg

[edit]
  • Request: [Merge]
  • Reason: Both files has a same the Temasek Holdings logo which original uploaded [1] and last version [2]. We have both files into the one file as a single file.

--YehudaHubert (talk) 02:13, 19 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 05:48, 19 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 05:48, 19 October 2025 (UTC)

File:I-120-1.(273)svg.svg → File:Qc273.svg

[edit]

--Wolfy13399 (talk) 23:04, 19 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 05:01, 20 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 05:01, 20 October 2025 (UTC)

File:MTA NYC Bus M103 bus turning onto 3rd Ave.jpg → File:MTA NYC Bus M102 bus near East 7th Street and Cooper Square.jpg

[edit]
✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 18:28, 20 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 18:28, 20 October 2025 (UTC)

FILE:Monnaie._Denier,_indéterminé,_Charlemagne_-_btv1b104138184_(1_of_2).jpg → FILE:Charlemagne_denier_Mayence_812_814.jpg

[edit]
  • Request: Merge
  • Reason: Two pictures of the same coin, sadly the one with the worse resolution is the one actually used in the Wikis. It doesn't make sense to keep the worse photography, as it is just lower resolution of the actual physical same coin. Also it has already been replaced by a slightly better photography, so the source is not even correct anymore.

--Gaussgroessereuler (talk) 13:53, 20 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 18:29, 20 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 18:29, 20 October 2025 (UTC)

File:Gärtner,_Peter_-_Herzog_Georg_der_Reiche_von_Bayern-Landshut.jpg → File:Herzog_Georgs_des_Reichen_von_Paul_Gertner.jpg

[edit]
  • Request: Merge
  • Reason: The former is just a better resolution version, while the other (older version of the same image with worse quality) is being used more widely in the wikis.

--Gaussgroessereuler (talk) 15:38, 23 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 18:42, 23 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 18:42, 23 October 2025 (UTC)

See also

[edit]
Retrieved from "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Commons:History_merging_and_splitting&oldid=1093347596"