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
[edit]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 |
|---|
Special:MergeHistory makes it possible to automatically merge the history of two pages. |
History splitting
[edit]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 |
|---|
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 2with the page you wantFILE/PAGE 1contents to be merged into. - For splits, replace
FILE/PAGE 2with the new filename which you want the newer content to be moved fromFILE/PAGE 1.
|
no archives yet (create) |
Current requests
- Request: [Merge]
- Reason: Both files are same image, so i suggested the merger between two files to create a single file.
--103.144.14.16 10:31, 6 February 2025 (UTC)
Done --Sreejith K (talk) 04:27, 9 February 2025 (UTC)
This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 04:27, 9 February 2025 (UTC) - Request: [Merge] — Preceding unsigned comment was added by 73.112.197.56 (talk) 20:41, 12 February 2025 (UTC)
- Reason: Merging
- Comment: Where's the reason. 103.111.102.118 04:35, 14 February 2025 (UTC)
- Request: [Merge] — Preceding unsigned comment was added by 73.112.197.56 (talk) 20:41, 12 February 2025 (UTC)
- Reason: Merging — Preceding unsigned comment was added by 8.227.213.10 (talk) 20:28, 17 February 2025 (UTC)
- Comment: Where's the reason? 103.111.102.118 04:36, 14 February 2025 (UTC)
.png&action=edit&redlink=1){kind=link}
- Request: please either delete or split the last file, thanks
- Reason: bad and awful crop
--5.215.39.49 10:19, 14 February 2025 (UTC)
.png){kind=link}
- Done --Sreejith K (talk) 14:55, 14 February 2025 (UTC)
This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 14:55, 14 February 2025 (UTC) File:Empress_Elisabeth_of_Austria_with_diamond_stars_on_her_hair.jpg → File:Elisabeth_of_Austria,_by_Franz_Xaver_Winterhalter.jpg
[edit]
- Request: [Merge]
- Reason: same painting, separate files that are not connected. Different quality levels also means that the best possible versions are not displayed across wikimedia. This painting is also duplicated on https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Empress_Elisabeth_of_Austria_in_dancing-dress,_1865,_Franz_Xaver_Winterhalter.jpg which is also not connected to the other two.
--Izzerbelle (talk) 00:08, 15 February 2025 (UTC)
- Done --Sreejith K (talk) 00:57, 19 February 2025 (UTC)
This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 00:57, 19 February 2025 (UTC) 
- Request: [Merge]
- Reason: Both files are exactly same image, so i suggested this file to be merged as a single file with the latter file name.
--120.188.4.102 12:08, 15 February 2025 (UTC)
- Done --Sreejith K (talk) 00:57, 19 February 2025 (UTC)
This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 00:57, 19 February 2025 (UTC) 
- Request: [Merge]
- Reason: Because both of files are decided to kept per discussion, i want to delete one of those two files to be merged as a single file while kept the history of the former file (File:Jaguar-Logo.svg). Two files are actually same image, except the former was uploaded on 20 November 2024, while the latter was uploaded on 19 November 2024.
--Yayan550 (talk) 13:46, 16 February 2025 (UTC)
- Done --Sreejith K (talk) 00:58, 19 February 2025 (UTC)
This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 00:58, 19 February 2025 (UTC) 
- Request: [Merge]
- Reason: Both files are similar file (except the former file had file size of 175 x 165 while the latter had file size of 2000 x 2000), so i suggested both of files to be merge as a single file.
--2404:8000:1037:15F:89:36B7:FCE7:9C48 13:55, 22 February 2025 (UTC)
