Commons:History merging and splitting

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

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

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

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.

 

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Current requests

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

Probably a more complex one: Perhaps Split and Merge in two steps

First some background: Subbass1 uploaded the original version of Satzkorn, Dorfkirche (02).jpg and requested about two years ago in dewiki some retouching, see archived thread (in German, of course): de:Wikipedia:Fotowerkstatt/Archiv/2023/Mai#Kanzelrest. There he wrote the image should be overwritten with the new version (in German slang: “bitte drüberladen”). Now for the complex part:
The version where a crop and rotation has been done is now the active version under the original name, but should perhaps better split from it. On the other hand, the version which is in the moment separated could be merged, because the image is visually unchanged outside of the retouching.

Easy approach:

Alternative approach:

  • Two steps:
  1. Split File:Satzkorn, Dorfkirche (02).jpg. The new version could be named File:Satzkorn, Dorfkirche (02) - cropped and rotated.jpg.
  2. Like “easy approach”: Merge File:Kanzelrest PSX 20230508 101614.jpg into File:Satzkorn, Dorfkirche (02).jpg (but now without the edited version), keep the latter (original) name.

A third approach would be doing the splitting step only. Then I would rename Kanzelrest PSX 20230508 101614.jpg myself which was my primary intention, but then I noticed what has happened. — Speravir – 23:43, 2 June 2025 (UTC)

✓ Done Took the easy approach, let me know if you need anything more. --Sreejith K (talk) 13:45, 3 June 2025 (UTC)
yes — Speravir – 23:11, 3 June 2025 (UTC)
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File:Statue of Nityananda Paramhamsadev at Nityananda Ashram, Cooch Behar, WB, In.JPG → File:Statue of Nityananda Paramhamsadev at Nityananda Ashram, Cooch Behar, WB, In (2).JPG

  • Request: [Split]
  • Reason: Uploaded multiple files on the same page by mistake

--Kingshuk Mondal (talk) 09:09, 3 June 2025 (UTC)

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 13:42, 3 June 2025 (UTC)
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File:2025 Republic of Korea Presidential Election, Municipal-level divisions - Results.svg →File:2025 Republic of Korea Presidential Election, Municipal-level divisions.svg

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 13:51, 4 June 2025 (UTC)
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 13:51, 4 June 2025 (UTC)

File:Tony Evans The Urban Alternative.jpg → File:Tony Evans The Urban Alternative (2).jpg

  • Request: [Split]
  • Reason: please split

— Preceding unsigned comment was added by 2601:8c:4182:9ab0:d1d7:a073:7f14:a096 (talk)

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 10:53, 8 June 2025 (UTC)
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File:WVEC 2018.svg → File:WVEC 2018 (2).svg

  • Request: [Split]
  • Reason: please split

— Preceding unsigned comment was added by 2601:8c:4182:9ab0:d1d7:a073:7f14:a096 (talk)

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 10:53, 8 June 2025 (UTC)
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 10:53, 8 June 2025 (UTC)

File:Freeform 2022.svg → File:Freeform 2022 (2).svg

  • Request: [Split]
  • Reason: please split

— Preceding unsigned comment was added by 2601:8c:4182:9ab0:d1d7:a073:7f14:a096 (talk)

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 10:53, 8 June 2025 (UTC)
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 10:53, 8 June 2025 (UTC)

file:ABC-2021-LOGO.svg → file:ABC-2021-LOGO (2).svg

  • Request: [Split]
  • Reason: please split

— Preceding unsigned comment was added by 2601:8c:4182:9ab0:d1d7:a073:7f14:a096 (talk)

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 10:53, 8 June 2025 (UTC)
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 10:53, 8 June 2025 (UTC)

file:ABC-2021-LOGO.svg → file:ABC-2021-LOGO (3).svg

Comment Does you have a reason for the file to justify the split? Just saying "please split" isn't really enough to justify the split of the file. Need more than a proof regarding the difference to versions to doing that. Yayan550 (talk) 22:22, 8 June 2025 (UTC)

Category:SVG logos of local American Broadcasting Company stations → Category:SVG logos of American Broadcasting Company affiliates

  • Request: [Merge]
  • Reason: please merge

— Preceding unsigned comment was added by 2601:8c:4182:9ab0:d1d7:a073:7f14:a096 (talk)

 Not done - File deleted. --Sreejith K (talk) 10:54, 8 June 2025 (UTC)
In addition: Wrong place, see Commons:Categories for discussion/2025/02/Category:SVG logos of local American Broadcasting Company stations. —Speravir 01:08, 12 June 2025 (UTC)
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File:Beetle 2015.jpg → File:Expo autos antiguos.jpg

  • Request: Split replacement version
  • Reason: The original version (File:Beetle 2015.jpg) contains an actual 2015 Volkswagen "New" Beetle, and thus is more deserving of the name. The replacement (File:Expo autos antiguos.jpg) is of some vague non-descript antique American car show somewhere in Latin America and has no visible Volkswagen Beetles, new or old. The original photographer should know the exact location and give details and categories. I tried to zoom in on the license plates in order to find it myself, but they were too blurry. --DanTD (talk) 14:36, 7 June 2025 (UTC)
✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 10:54, 8 June 2025 (UTC)
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FILE:980446-en-01-logo-white.png → File:Fareed Zakaria GPS.png

  • Request: [Merge]
  • Reason: please merge

2601:8C:4182:9AB0:D489:882:B0B:DC61 05:03, 9 June 2025 (UTC)

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 08:49, 9 June 2025 (UTC)
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File:Tony Evans The Urban Alternative.jpg → File:Tony Evans The Urban Alternative (2).jpg

  • Request: [Split]
  • Reason: please split

— Preceding unsigned comment was added by 2601:8c:4182:9ab0:d489:882:b0b:dc61 (talk)

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 08:52, 9 June 2025 (UTC)
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 08:52, 9 June 2025 (UTC)

File:WVEC 2018.svg → File:WVEC 2018 (2).svg

  • Request: [Split]
  • Reason: please split

— Preceding unsigned comment was added by 2601:8c:4182:9ab0:d489:882:b0b:dc61 (talk)

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 09:32, 9 June 2025 (UTC)
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File:Freeform 2022.svg → File:Freeform 2022 (2).svg

  • Request: [Split]
  • Reason: please split

— Preceding unsigned comment was added by 2601:8c:4182:9ab0:d489:882:b0b:dc61 (talk)

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 09:32, 9 June 2025 (UTC)
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 09:32, 9 June 2025 (UTC)

Category:SVG logos of local American Broadcasting Company stations → Category:SVG logos of American Broadcasting Company affiliates

  • Request: [Merge]
  • Reason: please merge

2601:8C:4182:9AB0:D489:882:B0B:DC61 05:07, 9 June 2025 (UTC)

Asked already some days ago. Here is the wrong place. See instead Commons:Categories for discussion/2025/02/Category:SVG logos of local American Broadcasting Company stations. — Speravir – 01:14, 12 June 2025 (UTC)
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File:IMovie Icon iOS.jpg → File:IMovie icon (MacOS) 2020.jpg

  • Request: Split
  • Reason: Bad overwriting. Please move the revisions by Alexjenn to the new name. Reference: .

--0x0a (talk) 12:54, 11 June 2025 (UTC)

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 15:39, 11 June 2025 (UTC)
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file:Fox Business.svg → file:Fox Business (2).svg

  • Request: [Split]
  • Reason: please move the reasons
  • Comment I questioned the reason behind the split. Just saying "please split" does not mean that the admin can approve the split without concrete reason. Need more than a proof regarding the difference of the file to justify it. Yayan550 (talk) 22:33, 11 June 2025 (UTC)
✓ Done - Moved overwritten logo to a new file and added {{Logo history}} --Sreejith K (talk) 03:13, 12 June 2025 (UTC)
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file: Fox News Channel logo.svg

  • Request: [Split]
  • Reason: please move the revisions
  • Comment Please check my previous comment, you need a proof regarding the content to justify the split of the file. Yayan550 (talk) 22:35, 11 June 2025 (UTC)

file:Fox News Radio logo.png

  • Request: [Split]
  • Reason: please move the revisions
  • Comment Where's the reason? It appears that IP isn't really know about the reason need to justify the split/merger. Yayan550 (talk) 22:37, 11 June 2025 (UTC)
✓ Done - Moved overwritten logo to a new file File:Fox News Radio logo (2).png and added {{Logo history}} --Sreejith K (talk) 03:14, 12 June 2025 (UTC)
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File:Monet - La Falaise à Fécamp, 1881.jpg → File:La Falaise à Fécamp - Claude Monet - ABDAG003046.jpg

  • Request: [Merge]
  • Reason: duplicate in lower resolution

--Speravir 01:02, 12 June 2025 (UTC)

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 03:04, 12 June 2025 (UTC)
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 03:04, 12 June 2025 (UTC)

file:ABC-2021-LOGO.svg → file:ABC-2021-LOGO (3).svg

  • Request: [Split]
  • Reason: please move the revisions

TyraFan638 (talk) 03:35, 12 June 2025 (UTC)

I questioned the intention of this user to split the file. I'm not sure if there is a different versions of the file itself. Yayan550 (talk) 05:37, 12 June 2025 (UTC)

file: Fox News Channel logo.svg

  • Request: [Split]
  • Reason: please move the revisions

TyraFan638 (talk) 03:35, 12 June 2025 (UTC)

File:ABC (2013) Blue.svg

  • Request: Split
  • Reason: please move the revisions

TyraFan638 (talk) 03:35, 12 June 2025 (UTC)

File:ABC (2013) Dark Grey.svg → File:American Broadcasting Company (2018).svg

  • Request: Split
  • Reason: please move the revisions

TyraFan638 (talk) 03:35, 12 June 2025 (UTC)

File:ABC (2013) Gold.svg

  • Request: Split
  • Reason: please move the revisions

TyraFan638 (talk) 03:35, 12 June 2025 (UTC)

Comment No concrete reasons given about the justification of the split. Assuming that this request needed to be declined. Yayan550 (talk) 06:07, 13 June 2025 (UTC)

File:ABC (2013) Red.svg

  • Request: Split
  • Reason: please move the revisions

TyraFan638 (talk) 03:35, 12 June 2025 (UTC)

Category:NBC station logos → Category:Logos of NBC network affiliates

  • Request: [Merge]
  • Reason: please merge

TyraFan638 (talk) 03:59, 12 June 2025 (UTC)

I think this is wrong place to seek the merge of categories. Why not at Categories for discussion. Yayan550 (talk) 05:47, 12 June 2025 (UTC)

File:PBS (Alternative Vertical Print).webp → File:PBS (Alternative Vertical).webp

  • Request: [Merge]
  • Reason: Surprising to see how a sockpuppet of Jordanene7 (TyraFan638) upload the same image with different file title. So, i suggest both files to be merge as a single file given that the subject is same image. Yayan550 (talk) 06:09, 13 June 2025 (UTC)
✓ Done - If the images are the same, lets use {{Duplicate}} instead of merging the files. --Sreejith K (talk) 07:19, 13 June 2025 (UTC)
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File:United-Paramount-Network-Logo.svg → File:UPN logo.svg

  • Request: [Merge]
  • Reason: The possibly explained both files also formerly upload by File Upload Bot (Magnus Manske) and last upload version by Wdwdbot (licensed after upload non-free image by Zaibatsu). So, I suggest both files extreme to be merge as a single file.

--YehudaHubert (talk) 16:52, 14 June 2025 (UTC)

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 18:47, 14 June 2025 (UTC)
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File:Air Canada logo.svg

  • Request: [Split]
  • Reason: The 2017 logo (as seen on first revision and second revision) are actually different image, with darker red color for maple leaf and black "AIR CANADA" text, as well as shifting place between maple leaf and text. So, i suggest the 2017 logo should be split from File:Air Canada logo.svg, with two revisions (10 February 2017 and 16 May 2020) of the image be placed at the new file as File:Air Canada 2017.svg.

--Yayan550 (talk) 05:57, 17 June 2025 (UTC)

See also

Category:Commons help
Category:Commons help