Commons:SPLIT

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.

File:Casanova (1927).webm → File:Casanova 1927.webm

  • Request: Merge
  • Reason: I re-uploaded Casanova in higher quality, but I had to do it externally instead of writing the file. So please merge. And please describe it as "Casanova (1927).webm".

--OGPawlis (talk) 23:35, 16 July 2026 (UTC)

@Yann: , can you review? --Sreejith K (talk) 13:37, 27 July 2026 (UTC)
 Support @Sreejithk2000: Looks good to me. Yann (talk) 13:41, 27 July 2026 (UTC)
✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 15:35, 27 July 2026 (UTC)
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 15:35, 27 July 2026 (UTC)

File:تصویر منتشرشده در کتاب عقاید النساء (06) (cropped).jpg → File:تصویر منتشرشده در کتاب عقاید النساء (06).jpg

  • Request: Merge
  • Reason: I meant to overwrite the cropped version but accidentally uploaded it as a new file.

--Hanooz 10:10, 24 July 2026 (UTC)

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 04:00, 25 July 2026 (UTC)
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 04:00, 25 July 2026 (UTC)

File:USMC-101118-M-2339L-019.jpg → File:Creating a culture of conservation, MCB Hawaii welcomes state's first E85 fueling station DVIDS345040.jpg

  • Request: [Merge]
  • Reason: These are the same file, just uploaded at different times from different military sources. The should accordingly be merged, as the file size is not quite the same and the second image has the more descriptive title and sourcing. - The Bushranger (talk) 23:13, 24 July 2026 (UTC)
✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 04:00, 25 July 2026 (UTC)
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 04:00, 25 July 2026 (UTC)

File:Felipe Sonsong (1611-1686) NHCP Historical Marker.png → File:Felipe Sonsong (1611-1686) NHCP Marker.png

  • Request: Split
  • Reason: Photos of the same plaque taken in different years.

—seav (talk) 10:48, 27 July 2026 (UTC)

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 13:37, 27 July 2026 (UTC)
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 13:37, 27 July 2026 (UTC)

File:Simbahan ng Tagig NHCP Historical Marker.jpg → File:Simbahan ng Tagig NHCP Marker.jpg

  • Request: Split
  • Reason: Photos of the same plaque taken in different years.

—seav (talk) 10:49, 27 July 2026 (UTC)

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 13:37, 27 July 2026 (UTC)
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 13:37, 27 July 2026 (UTC)

File:Corporation for Public Broadcasting logo.svg → File:Corporation for Public Broadcasting logo (1).svg

  • Request: [Split]
  • Reason: please split

--JordanEne93847492838 (talk) 15:48, 30 July 2026 (UTC)

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 12:42, 31 July 2026 (UTC)
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 12:42, 31 July 2026 (UTC)

File:Corporation for Public Broadcasting logo.svg → File:Corporation for Public Broadcasting logo (2).svg

  • Request: [Split]
  • Reason: please split

--JordanEne93847492838 (talk) 15:48, 30 July 2026 (UTC)

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 12:42, 31 July 2026 (UTC)
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 12:42, 31 July 2026 (UTC)

File:Corporation for Public Broadcasting logo.svg → File:Corporation for Public Broadcasting logo (3).svg

  • Request: [Split]
  • Reason: please split

--JordanEne93847492838 (talk) 15:48, 30 July 2026 (UTC)

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 12:42, 31 July 2026 (UTC)
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 12:42, 31 July 2026 (UTC)

File:Nix Snowflake Logo.svg → File:Nix snowflake.svg

  • Request: [Merge]
  • Reason: The former file (File:Nix Snowflake Logo.svg) is fully identical to the latter, which is both almost three years older than the former (File:Nix snowflake.svg), and is the only one being utilized on any other Wikimedia platforms, e.g. Wikimedia. The former is only catalogued to what appears to be the uploader's personal uploads tracker.

--Chat-qui-Aboie (talk) 20:15, 30 July 2026 (UTC)

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 12:42, 31 July 2026 (UTC)
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 12:42, 31 July 2026 (UTC)

File:Rep. Pinpin Uy (20th Congress) (2).jpg → File:Rep. Pinpin Uy (20th Congress).jpg

  • Request: [Merge]
  • Reason: Not sure why this was split. As far as I know, it's only an updated portrait of the congressman during the 20th Congress.

--👦 09:51, 2 August 2026 (UTC)

 Not done - Not the same photo. --Sreejith K (talk) 20:54, 2 August 2026 (UTC)
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 20:54, 2 August 2026 (UTC)

File:Tomas Claudio Monument (cropped).JPG → File:Tomas Claudio (1892-1918) historical marker.jpg

  • Request: Merge
  • Reason: Crop of the same plaque from the same original photo.

—seav (talk) 04:12, 3 August 2026 (UTC)

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 11:55, 3 August 2026 (UTC)
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 11:55, 3 August 2026 (UTC)

File:Labanan ng San Mateo NHCP Historical Marker.jpg → File:Labanan ng San Mateo NHCP Marker.jpg

  • Request: Split
  • Reason: Photos of the same plaque taken in different months in 2024. (See the different light patterns.)

—seav (talk) 14:41, 3 August 2026 (UTC)

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 15:25, 3 August 2026 (UTC)
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 15:25, 3 August 2026 (UTC)

File:NatPressClub HistoricalMarker Manila.jpg → File:NatPressClub Marker Manila.jpg

  • Request: Split
  • Reason: Photos of the same plaque taken in different years. The first two photos were taken in or before 2014 (with the second being a perspective correction), and the latest was taken in 2024. (The plaque was moved sometime in the intervening years resulting into the different backing concrete pedestal for the 2024 photo.)

—seav (talk) 14:45, 3 August 2026 (UTC)

✓ Done --Sreejith K (talk) 15:25, 3 August 2026 (UTC)
Checkmark This section is resolved and can be archived. If you disagree, replace this template with your comment. --Sreejith K (talk) 15:25, 3 August 2026 (UTC)

File:Warner Bros Pictures 2023 Print color.svg → File:Warner Bros. Pictures 2023 (Alt).svg

  • Request: [Merge]
  • Reason: Aside from how large KB size of the former file (64 KB) as opposed to the latter (21 KB), they're same image, same logo. So, i suggested the merger of these files into a single file.

--~2026-42776-10 (talk) 22:00, 3 August 2026 (UTC)

See also

Category:Commons help