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 |
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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 |
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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.
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Current requests
.svg_→_File:Flag_of_the_Wassoulou_Empire.svg){kind=link}
.svg){kind=link}
* Request: [Merge] *
Reason: The improved version is near-identical to the first one. It is also sourced while the original one is unsourced. The original is already widely used on Wikipedia so the improved version should be merged into it.
--HetmanTheResearcher (talk) 03:35, 20 December 2024 (UTC)
Not done - The files are not identical, there is significant difference. --Sreejith K (talk) 14:47, 24 December 2024 (UTC)
This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 14:47, 24 December 2024 (UTC) File:Spite Marriage (1929).webm → File:Spite Marriage (Edward Sedgwick and Buster Keaton, 1929).webm
[edit]- Request: Merge
- Reason: The same file with same length
2001:871:25A:D13B:B9DB:B9C3:23C6:BF7A 08:17, 1 January 2025 (UTC)
File:The Mysterious Dr. Fu Manchu (1929).webm → File:The Mysterious Dr. Fu Manchu (1929) by Rowland V. Lee.webm
[edit]- Request: Merge
- Reason: The same file with same length
2001:871:25A:D13B:B9DB:B9C3:23C6:BF7A 08:22, 1 January 2025 (UTC)
Done --Yann (talk) 11:04, 1 January 2025 (UTC)
This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 15:24, 2 January 2025 (UTC) File:1929-02-01 - The Broadway Melody (1929).webm → File:The Broadway Melody (Harry Beaumont, 1929).webm
[edit]- Request: [Split or Merge]
- Reason: It's the same movie.
OGPawlis (talk) 16:41, 1 January 2025 (UTC)
File:Marx Brothers - The Cocoanuts (1929).webm → File:The Cocoanuts (1929) Marx Brothers.webm → File:The Cocoanuts (1929).webm
[edit]- Request: Merge
- Reason: The same movie with very minor time differents. If you decide to merge, please name as The Cocoanuts (1929).webm
--OGPawlis (talk) 16:48, 1 January 2025 (UTC)
- Merging big videos is a pain. What is the point to keep the lower resolution versions? Yann (talk) 17:39, 1 January 2025 (UTC)
- Request: [Merge]
- Reason: Both files are similar, so having them to merge as single file is necessary.
--Yayan550 (talk) 23:42, 1 January 2025 (UTC)
- Done --Sreejith K (talk) 15:23, 2 January 2025 (UTC)
This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 15:23, 2 January 2025 (UTC) 
- Request: Merge
- Reason: I had intended to overwrite File:LeningradCodex text.jpg with the file that ended up being uploaded to File:LeningradCodex text.jpeg, since this ended up creating a duplicate of the file, I would like the two to be merged.
--Colohisto (talk) 00:32, 3 January 2025 (UTC)
- Done --Sreejith K (talk) 14:52, 3 January 2025 (UTC)
This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 14:52, 3 January 2025 (UTC) File:Our Dancing Daughters (1928) by Harry Beaumont, AVI.webm → File:Our Dancing Daughters (Harry Beaumont, 1928).webm
[edit]- Request: Merge
- Reason: This film which is in the public domain originally had a synchronized soundtrack when released, the first file does not have not have the soundtrack, I uploaded the file with the soundtrack using video to commons but wasn't able to overwrite the first.
--Colohisto (talk) 00:30, 4 January 2025 (UTC)
File:Our Dancing Daughters (1928).webm → File:Our Dancing Daughters (Harry Beaumont, 1928).webm
[edit]- Request: Merge
- Reason: I was trying to overwrite File:Our Dancing Daughters (Harry Beaumont, 1928).webm by removing the metadata (there was a title in the metadata) but I wasn't able to upload it directly via the Commons upload wizard since the max file size for uploading from a computer is 100 MB. I had to use video2commons again to upload it to a new file.
--Colohisto (talk) 01:31, 4 January 2025 (UTC)
Request: Merge Reason: The same movie with different resolutions. 37.109.162.190 09:57, 6 January 2025 (UTC)
File:1929-02-01 - The Broadway Melody (1929).webm → File:The Broadway Melody (Harry Beaumont, 1929).webm
[edit]- Request: Merge
- Reason: It's the same movie.
OGPawlis (talk) 09:59, 6 January 2025 (UTC)