User talk:UnknownLifeform3

Merging has rules

Hi UnknownLifeform3. I'm totally on your side on the principle of merging wherever possible. However, merging has rules, and if an editor doesn't know them or disregards them, the resulting chaos is huge and the harm outdoes by far the intended good. There are experienced editors who are happy to help if you place a question like this at the Teahouse. I'm having problems myself with technical matters, and the Wiki manual is often written in an incomprehensible manner, so going to the Teahouse is a really good move.

Please mind

Not leaving the talk-page behind; you might need to adapt the section headings if merged onto a common page, to make clear to which of the merged topics the section refers.
Updating the "what merges here" items. It could be that by using a merger template I don't know about, this happens automatically. Otherwise, doing it by hand is both a MUST, and HELL! Patience and perseverence.
Adapting the content, to properly integrate into common page: adapt headings where needed, also their "hierarchy" (number of = signs; example: when a "History" or "Description" section only refers to the merged-in sub-topic, not the larger, entire site); remove pictures and other items already present; create sub-sets at "See also" and wherever else needed; etc.

Most of these are simply logical steps, but w/o proper focus and a checklist, you can easily miss important ones. I still hope Teahouse & manual can offer some technical shortcuts, but if not, it's all your responsability!

Good luck and see you around! Cheers, Arminden (talk) 17:10, 6 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks for the info, however i am a little confused about what you mean in the bullet pointed info, can you please elaborate, thanks. Unknown Lifeform | Talk 10:46, 7 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Also, do not worry about the the 'what merges here' I did some research, and there are bots that fix it automatically. Unknown Lifeform | Talk 08:56, 8 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]