Commons talk:Overwriting existing files/Requests

This new policy is atrocious

When was this policy approved and where is the discussion on it? Putting a ton of work on to administrators to approve edit requests is the complete antithesis of Wikimedia policy. I've been on Wikipedia for 10+ years and I've never seen such an awful policy. Ergzay (talk) 01:16, 4 November 2023 (UTC)

I believe it was discussed at VPP. I don't mind the little bit of extra work, and overwriting was a problem area where policy was being ignored. Abzeronow (talk) 16:02, 4 November 2023 (UTC)

I too find this new policy highly disruptive and insulting. I can no longer update charts (e.g. File:Standard Model of Elementary Particles.svg) after I have done so for over 10 years. What is VPP ? Cush (talk) 18:03, 21 December 2023 (UTC)

Commons:Village pump/Proposals which is abbreviated as COM:VPP. You can also request the autopatrol right at COM:RFR. Abzeronow (talk) 18:09, 21 December 2023 (UTC)

I'm confused. I don't want a new hobby, I just want to propose an update to one file.

I'm confused, how do I proceed. I downloaded a CC0 SVG from Wikimedia Commons that I was planning to use for my own purposes (as allowed by CC0) and noticed that:

• Inkscape file format had been updated, and Inkscape kindly updated the file format for me.
• The file did not include any metadata which is now easily editable in the current version of Inkscape.

As such I copied the metadata from Wikimedia Commons into the file's internal metadata and thought that other users would appreciate the update, which I noticed appeared to agree with the file update policy, so I attempted to upload it:

• I discover I have no track record of modifying uploaded files, and I'm not the original creator, so I need to request an exception for this particular file?
• Ok... easy peasy. I click the link and:
• I'm told I don't have autopatrol user right to request to update a file... or something like that.

I have enough to do, without wanting to become a Wikimedia editor. Can't I just say, "Here's the modified file... use it if you want to"?

Being a good citizen, I'm writing this instead of simply giving up. Here's the file I'm willing to update. File:English pattern playing cards deck PLUS.svg There are two changes to the file:

• Inkscape updated the file format for me.
• I added the following metadata to the file:
  • Title
  • Date
  • Creator
  • Rights
  • Publisher
  • Source
  • Language
  • Description
• I did not update the file data content in any way. As this is an SVG file, there should be no compression artifacts; This is a file format and metadata change only.

Do you want this updated file or not? I didn't add myself as a contributor, as I only copied and pasted data from Wikimedia Commons to the file and contributed none of my own work. How am I supposed to proceed. As a casual Wikimedia Commons user I'm totally stumpped. Linux dr (talk) 00:05, 24 February 2024 (UTC)

See also Commons:Help desk#I'm confused. I don't want a new hobby, I just want to propose an update to one file. -- Asclepias (talk) 14:13, 24 February 2024 (UTC)