Commons:HMS

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.

 

Shortcut

Current requests

View Edit Add topic

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

Category:Anseriformes in Chile → Category:Anseriformes of Chile

  • Request: Merge
  • Reason: This request was archived twice even though it was never answered by anyone, and it remained unresolved. I am submitting it for a third time so that it can be answered by whoever has to do so.
    "Anseriformes in Chile" was created later (couple of weeks ago actually), and "Anseriformes of Chile" has existed since 2018. There should only be one category to avoid the current redundancy.

--SamuelInzunza (talk) 18:10, 7 May 2026 (UTC)

Five Port St. Joe, Florida files

Thanks! --The Bushranger (talk) 01:01, 11 May 2026 (UTC)

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 15:55, 11 May 2026 (UTC)
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 15:55, 11 May 2026 (UTC)

Split File:Public Seal of Niue.svg → File:Public Seal of Niue (2021–).svg + merge File:Public Seal of Niue.svg → File:Public Seal of Niue (1974–2021).svg

  • Request: [Split] + [Merge]
  • Reason:

The version uploaded to File:Public Seal of Niue.svg on 16 June 2023 (being the new seal of Niue which replaced the old one in 2021) is a different image from those preceding it (the old seal), so should have a separate file history.

Additionally, File:Public Seal of Niue (1974–2021).svg is the same as the previous version of File:Public Seal of Niue.svg, so those images should share the same file history. --Radicuil (talk) 08:39, 11 May 2026 (UTC)

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 15:56, 11 May 2026 (UTC)
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 15:56, 11 May 2026 (UTC)

File:Threads-logo-black-2026.svg → File:Threads 2026 logo.svg

  • Request: [Merge]
  • Reason: Same image, same file. That's necessary for both files to merge as a single file.

--Yayan550 (talk) 11:57, 13 May 2026 (UTC)

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 16:45, 13 May 2026 (UTC)
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 16:45, 13 May 2026 (UTC)

File:04w90.png → File:04W Jun 15 1990 0609Z.png

--👦 02:10, 20 May 2026 (UTC)

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 05:22, 20 May 2026 (UTC)
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 05:22, 20 May 2026 (UTC)

Merge File:Google Drive Logo 05.2026.svg → File:Google Drive icon (2026).svg + merge File:Google Meet Logo 05.2026.svg → File:Google Meet icon (2026).svg

  • Request: [Merge]
  • Reason:

The first and second file uploaded by EnSingHemm (File:Google Drive Logo 05.2026.svg and File:Google Meet Logo 05.2026.svg) are duplicates of already existing files (File:Google Drive icon (2026).svg and File:Google Meet icon (2026).svg). So, we need to merge those duplicated files to a single respective one (such as merging File:Google Drive Logo 05.2026.svg to File:Google Drive icon (2026).svg for Google Drive logo and merging File:Google Meet Logo 05.2026.svg to File:Google Meet icon (2026).svg for Google Meet logo)

We also need attention to Commons:Deletion requests/File:Gmail Logo 05.2026.svg because it contain a suggestion merge File:Gmail Logo 05.2026.svg with File:Gmail icon (2026).svg.

. Yayan550 (talk) 16:07, 20 May 2026 (UTC)

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 20:07, 20 May 2026 (UTC)
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 20:07, 20 May 2026 (UTC)

File:Cyclone 02A on June 19th.png → File:02A Jun 19 1979 1139Z.png

  • Request: [Merge]
  • Reason: Same image, better resolution on the second. Same request as the File:04W Jun 15 1990 0609Z.png one; merge their history only and not affect the current image (the 2020 image was overwritten by the 2021 image).

--👦 16:26, 22 May 2026 (UTC)

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 17:39, 22 May 2026 (UTC)
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 17:39, 22 May 2026 (UTC)

File:Sunken gardens, Douglas Promenade, Isle of Man 024 20A.jpg → File:Caulking of a caravel ship in Sweden.jpg

  • Request: [Split]
  • Reason: In 2007, someone uploaded a picture of a public garden with a filename that was just a string of numbers. In 2008, someone else overwrote it with a picture of boat construction. In 2010, it got reverted to being the public garden. Today I renamed it, but I'd like the boat construction picture extracted from the history.

--DS (talk) 16:57, 23 May 2026 (UTC)

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 17:24, 23 May 2026 (UTC)
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 17:24, 23 May 2026 (UTC)

File:Wii Sports Resort logo.svg → File:Wii Sports Resort logo.svg

  • Request: Merge
  • Reason: During the fixing process of the logo's errors, more errors appeared in some of the SVG's clipping masks, which lead to the changelog and history being inconsistent and inaccurate to the changes made to the SVG. If merged or fixed, changelog would accurately match current file changes.

--ThatKoolKoopa (talk) 00:07, 24 May 2026 (UTC)

File:Google logo (2013-2015).svg → File:Google2013logo.svg

--Yayan550 (talk) 04:45, 24 May 2026 (UTC)

See also

Category:Commons help