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Revision as of 18:54, 27 January 2008 by Mike V (talk | contribs) (unworthy sounds a bit too harsh to me)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)The rollback feature is available to administrators and users with the rollbacker permission on Misplaced Pages as a fast method of undoing nonproductive edits, usually vandalism.
The rollbacker permission feature was implemented on the English-language Misplaced Pages following several discussions at Misplaced Pages:Non-administrator rollback and two major polls. Following the second poll, the feature was implemented on 9 January 2008 as noted at Template:Bug, and began to be granted the same day.
A complete list of users with the rollbacker permission can be found in the page Special:Listusers/rollbacker. The current count (as of January 2, 2025) is 6877 users with rollback rights. Rollback is also available to administrators listed on Special:Listusers/sysop.
How it works
The Rollback feature is available within the history page of an article, a diff and a user's contributions page. When an admin or rollbacker sees an unworthy change to an article (usually vandalism), as long as the change they wish to rollback is the latest edit to the article, they can click the 'rollback' link which will revert the vandal's edit.
If the vandal made more than one edit to the article in a row, the version reverted to will be the latest version made by a user other than the vandal. The automatically generated edit summary for rolllback looks like this:
- m Reverted edits by User A (talk) to last version by User B
Where User A depicts the editor whose changes are being reverted, while User B signals the editor of the version the admin or rollbacker reverted User A's changes to. Because the feature is used mostly to revert vandalism, a link to User A's contributions and talk page is also included as an easy way to issue warnings to that user. At one time there was a link beside it to block that user, although it has since been removed.
In all cases the Rollback signals itself as a "minor edit", hence the bold "m" at the beginning.
Benefits of the Rollback feature
- Administrators and rollbackers only need to make two mouse-clicks to remove vandalism.
When not to use the Rollback feature
- If there is any doubt about whether an edit should be rolled back, please do not use this feature. Consider using the undo feature instead, and adding a more informative edit summary explaining your revert.
How to apply for rollback
Any administrator can grant rollback to a user using his or her own judgement.
You may approach an administrator and request this permission, however administrators found in Category:Misplaced Pages administrators willing to grant rollback requests have specifically indicated their willingness to consider such requests when approached on their talk pages (or via e-mail). Alternatively, you may file a request at Misplaced Pages:Requests for rollback.
Practicing with the rollback tool
To practice with the rollback tool and see how it works, please see Misplaced Pages:New admin school/Rollback.