Merging Pages

Why We Merge Pages

We merge pages to consolidate information and avoid duplication. By merging pages, we create a single, comprehensive resource that users and rehabilitation professionals can easily find and reference.

Things to Consider When Merging Pages

The decision to merge pages requires careful consideration. Your rationale for merging pages will influence your decision-making process, ensuring that the content is relevant and reflects the best information from both pages.

• Page Selection: The two pages to be merged should cover the same or very similar topics. For simplicity, we will refer to them as the "Merge Target" (the final page) and the "Merge Source" (the page to be absorbed).
• Merge Target Selection: Select the Merge Target based on its name simplicity, search popularity, and its relevance to rehabilitation professionals. The Merge Target should ideally be the page that users are more likely to search for and reference.
• Content Quality: Ensure that all valuable content from the Merge Source is moved to the Merge Target. Both pages should end up with identical content.
• Page References: Before deleting the Merge Source, update any pages that link to it. These should be redirected to link to the Merge Target instead.

Understanding "Merge Target" and "Merge Source"

Merging pages can initially seem confusing because it involves deleting the 'Merge Target' - the page that is intended to be the final page. Here's a simple way to understand these two terms:

• Merge Target: This is the page that will 'appear' at the end of the process, meaning its name will be the one we keep. However, during the process, we delete it temporarily, only after its content is safely copied over to the 'Merge Source' page. We do this to be able to move (rename) the Merge Source page to the original name of the Merge Target. This will allow us to keep all the history of both pages intact. Think of the Merge Target as the 'destination' where all content and history will finally be viewed.
• Merge Source: This is the page that is going to be 'reviewed and copied' into the Merge Target. We move all useful content from this page into the Merge Target, then copy everything back into the Merge Source. This page essentially serves as a bridge to help carry over all page history into the Merge Target. Once we've used the Merge Source to bring over the content and history to the final page (originally the Merge Target), the Merge Source will disappear. Think of the Merge Source as the 'carrier' of content and history.

The Process of Merging Pages - Step by Step

The merge process might seem complex at first, but by following the steps below, you will be able to confidently navigate each step and your final page will contain all the relevant content from both pages, ensuring that all editors receive recognition for the content they created .

1. Identify the two pages to be merged. For simplicity let's call them "Merge Target" and "Merge Source". Merge Target will become the final page.
2. Choose the Merge Target. This should be the page with the shorter, simpler name that more people will search for. When in doubt, choose the page that is more commonly used (and known) by rehabilitation professionals.
3. Move all of the good ideas from the Merge Source into the Merge Target. Edit Merge Target just as you would a regular article.
4. Copy the content of Merge Target as wikitext (Select 'Edit': "Edit Source") and paste it into Merge Source. Both pages should now have exactly the same content in them.
5. Update all articles that link to the Merge Source (Select 'Tools': "What Links Here"). Change the link on those articles to point to the Merge Target.
6. Delete the Merge Target. Before you delete Merge Target make an exact copy of the page name.
7. Rename (Move) the Merge Source to the name of the deleted Merge Target. Select 'Edit' then "Move", then enter the Merge Target name you just copied from the previous step into the grey text box under 'New title: (Main)'. Click the blue 'Move Page' button.
8. You may be given a list of pages to select where you want the content moves to, so make sure you pick the correct version out of the list! The correct version is the one you want to keep, the Merge Target, which is the page you just deleted.
9. Finally, confirm that the page and page history of the new page now contain the authors of both the original pages, and the content shows as you wanted it.