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

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

Shortcut
COM:HMSR

Current requests

View Edit Add topic

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

Split request instead of renaming overwritten file

• Request: Split File:Wrestling - Chicago Wrestling ORIGINAL dec 12, programme 1952 - p.4.jpg → File:Bill Melby - Wrestling - Chicago Wrestling ORIGINAL dec 12, programme 1952 - p.4.jpg
• User:CoffeeEngineer, who is also uploader of the original version overwrote with a new, cropped version and requested renaming (CoffeeEngineer, see COM:OVERWRITE), but the first revision is also the source for another crop.

— Speravir – 02:36, 20 June 2020 (UTC)

 Done --Sreejith K (talk) 03:14, 20 June 2020 (UTC)

Thanks, Sreejith, and you even edited the crop in … — Speravir – 17:53, 21 June 2020 (UTC)

This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 03:14, 20 June 2020 (UTC)

Split between years old revisions

• Request: Split File:Standard Model of Elementary Particles.svg → File:Elementary Particles.svg.
  Split has to be between revision from 20 June 2013, 23:28:38 and from 22 June 2013, 21:35:24.
• Reason: COM:OVERWRITE infringement.

I will afterwards do necessary changes. Pinging @Cush. — Speravir – 22:00, 24 June 2020 (UTC)

Does it have to be "Standard Model of Elementary Particles bright.svg" ? Something like "Elementary Particles.svg" would be nice, and the name is not taken yet, and the suffixes for variant charts can be maintained. Cush (talk) 13:28, 25 June 2020 (UTC)

changed the above name. Does this have any effect? Cush (talk) 13:33, 25 June 2020 (UTC)

No, Cush, all fine as long as the new not yet exists like in this case. You have been fast enough for the name change. But the uses have later to moved to the new name separately. Let's wait. — Speravir – 23:02, 25 June 2020 (UTC)— Speravir – 23:02, 25 June 2020 (UTC)

The time you have specified for the upload is in your timezone, my timezone is EST and I am not able to identify the uploads. --Sreejith K (talk) 13:25, 29 June 2020 (UTC)

The split should be between 20130622193522 and 20130622201444 Cush (talk) 20:48, 1 July 2020 (UTC)

File:Marxists Internet Archive.jpg → File:Marxists Internet Archive 2009.jpg

• Request: Split
• Reason: The 2009 and 2017 versions are different to each other. Please split the first revision up to this revision before Carrite's 2017 upload into File:Marxists Internet Archive 2009.jpg.

--pandakekok9 11:09, 29 June 2020 (UTC)

 Done - Please do the cleanups and add categories. --Sreejith K (talk) 13:24, 29 June 2020 (UTC)

This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 13:24, 29 June 2020 (UTC)

See also

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