Wikipedia:Requests_for_history_merge

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This page is used for listing requests for history merges or history splitting of pages. For relatively simple cases where history merge is required, the destination page should be tagged with the {history merge} template. This page should be used for requesting very complex merges, merges involving more than two pages, history merges of deleted pages, or when the use of the template is otherwise inadequate or where its usage would cause problems.

This page was originally for listing cut-and-paste moves which could not be repaired due to a then-extant technical limitation. The limitation has since been removed, but this page is still available if you find a cut-and-paste move, and are not able to repair it yourself (there is a procedure for doing it, but only administrators can do it, and it is a bit tricky!).

Administrators need to read Wikipedia:Administrators' guide/Fixing cut-and-paste moves and Wikipedia:Requested moves/Closing instructions.

The procedure

  • If the issue is clear-cut (straight-forward cut-and-paste move(s) to a different title), place a {history merge|NAME OF PAGE THE ARTICLE WAS CUT FROM} template at the new location of the article which has been moved through cut and pasting, i.e. on the article where the pasting was done. This will place the request in Category:Candidates for history merging to be reviewed.
  • In more complex cases (explained at Wikipedia:How to fix cut-and-paste moves), please leave a description of the problem under the "Repair requests" section. An administrator will look over the pages and perform whatever tasks are necessary and update the request.
  • Tasks that have been completed or do not need further discussion will be removed.

Requests in categories

Candidates for history merging – No backlog currently

Candidates for history splitting – No backlog currently

Possible AfC copy-and-paste moves – No backlog currently

Wikipedia files requiring splitting – No backlog currently

purge to update the counts

Complex repair requests

Pages tagged with {history merge} are reviewed above. You do not need to file a second request here.

This fictional character first existed under Arnold Roth (Captain America) which was created in 2008 and was merged into a list from this version in 2013. A new article Arnie Roth (character) was written from scratch in 2023 and is a GA, and I think the edit histories of the two different versions should be merged together. BOZ (talk) 16:24, 26 February 2024 (UTC)

Note for the record that this has been declined before. I still think it is reasonable to do, but am not going to overrule another admin. * Pppery * it has begun... 16:42, 26 February 2024 (UTC)
I'm always happy to discuss things - why if there was no copy/paste should there be a histmerge? Primefac (talk) 14:24, 27 February 2024 (UTC)
My thinking is largely "why not?" Yes, they don't strictly need to be merged, but I don't see anything inherently unreasonable with wanting to keep the history of articles on the same topic together even without a cut-paste. I've done the same many times myself. * Pppery * it has begun... 17:01, 27 February 2024 (UTC)
That is the sum of my thinking on the topic. Since they are essentially two different versions of the same article, it makes sense to have them viewable on the same history. BOZ (talk) 18:16, 27 February 2024 (UTC)
two different versions of the same article - that is why I land where I do. They are different versions about the same topic. "I did this because I wanted to" is not policy-driven, and I am honestly a little surprised at your cavalier attitude towards this Pppery. Primefac (talk) 18:23, 27 February 2024 (UTC)
I'm not seeing the reason why not to merge, but that's OK, I suppose it's not for me to understand. BOZ (talk) 06:00, 28 February 2024 (UTC)
History merging is used to preserve attribution, i.e. the legal requirement that we can trace who contributed to an article. If two people write about the same subject in two different places, there is no attribution to preserve, and thus no reason to histmerge. Primefac (talk) 09:56, 28 February 2024 (UTC)

See also