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Two Methods:ArchivingComplete Deletion

At times, Talk and Discussion pages may become quite lengthy. This can be bothersome as it may take a while to browse through messages or download a page. wikiHow can help you learn how to archive content.

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EditMethod 1 of 2: Archiving

  1. Archive Talk or Discussion Page Messages on wikiHow Step 1 Version 4.jpg
    1
    Browse to the page you want to archive.
    • In this example, we'll use a user's Talk page
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  2. Archive Talk or Discussion Page Messages on wikiHow Step 2 Version 4.jpg
    2
    Click on the Edit tab at the top of the page.
  3. Archive Talk or Discussion Page Messages on wikiHow Step 3 Version 4.jpg
    3
    Select the talk page message you'd like to archive with the Copy and Paste steps, but don't remove the messages just yet.
  4. Archive Talk or Discussion Page Messages on wikiHow Step 4 Version 4.jpg
    4
    Open a new window or new tab.
  5. Archive Talk or Discussion Page Messages on wikiHow Step 5 Version 4.jpg
    5
    Browse to User_talk:Username/Archive1. If it is a discussion page you are archiving, go to http://www.wikihow.com/Discussion:Title-goes-here/Archive1
  6. Archive Talk or Discussion Page Messages on wikiHow Step 6 Version 4.jpg
    6
    Click on the Edit tab at the top of the page.
  7. Archive Talk or Discussion Page Messages on wikiHow Step 7 Version 4.jpg
    7
    Paste all the content you copied from a Talk page.
  8. Archive Talk or Discussion Page Messages on wikiHow Step 8 Version 4.jpg
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    Add {{talkarchive}} to the top of the archive page you just created.
  9. Archive Talk or Discussion Page Messages on wikiHow Step 9 Version 4.jpg
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    Write a note in the edit summary box to clarify your edit.
  10. Archive Talk or Discussion Page Messages on wikiHow Step 10 Version 4.jpg
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    Click on Publish, at the bottom of the page, to save your archive; now your messages are on a new page.
  11. Archive Talk or Discussion Page Messages on wikiHow Step 11 Version 4.jpg
    11
    Go back to your regular Talk page. Click on the Edit tab at the top if you published your previous edits.
  12. Archive Talk or Discussion Page Messages on wikiHow Step 12 Version 4.jpg
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    Remove all of the "previously-selected/previously highlighted content" with one swoosh of the Delete key on your keyboard. Leave the {{archive}} template in-place.
  13. Archive Talk or Discussion Page Messages on wikiHow Step 13 Version 3.jpg
    13
    Click on Publish at the bottom of the page, to save your changes. Now your talk page should be empty, with a link to your archived page(s)

EditMethod 2 of 2: Complete Deletion

Alternatively, if you don't want to archive your messages, you can simply delete them from your Talk page. Here is how to do so:

  1. 1
    Click "Edit" at the top of your Talk page.
  2. 2
    Highlight all of your messages to the very bottom and press Delete or Backspace.
  3. 3
    Write a note in the edit summary box to clarify your edit.
    • To view your old messages, go to the page history of your Talk page. To do so:
    • Go to your talk page.
    • Click on the History button. This will now show you your Talk page history.
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EditTips

  • Consider asking other users who have lengthy Talk or Kudos pages if they need assistance in archiving them. Do not do so without their approval, though.
  • Feel free to archive any lengthy Discussion page.
  • Use the same method for Discussion or Kudos pages.
    • Example: Replace User_talk:Example/Archive1 with Discussion:Example/Archive1
  • If you have additional coding on your talk page (e.g smaller/different font) be sure not to delete it while archiving or deleting your talk page.
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EditWarnings

  • Due to the fact that by archiving you are essentially "cleaning up the talk/discussion page", there should be no reason to have to add new messages to your own talk page on it. There is, however, a way to add new messages to your own talk page: Follow: How to Post on Your Own Talk Page.

Article Info

Categories: Discussion Pages | Talk Pages

Recent edits by: AJ, Adelaide, ArticleReader

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