Why Did Safe Archive Skip Files?
Separate skipped source items, failed transfers, hidden files, and Google-native exports so you know what needs a new run and what needs a different workflow.
Safe Archive guide
Keep the copy, keep the context, and keep a record of what arrived.
Founder of ARCED Foundation, ARCED International, and Solutions of Things Lab (SoTLab). Built FolderManifest to help teams protect file integrity and stay audit-ready.
Published August 20, 2026
Scope first
Decide what you are allowed to copy before starting the archive.
Copy second
Use a destination that will remain available after access changes.
Verify last
Keep a report that names the files copied, converted, skipped, or failed.
Quick answer
A skipped item is not automatically a failed copy. Open the report and check the status, reason, and source type. Then decide whether to include hidden files, reconnect a source, rerun a failed item, or use a format and workflow that supports the item.
Separate skipped, failed, converted, and missing
| Report status | What it means | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Skipped | The item was discovered but cannot be archived as ordinary bytes, or settings excluded it. | Use the reason to choose another export or source workflow. |
| Failed | The transfer was attempted but did not complete. | Fix the source or destination and resume. |
| Converted | A Google-native document was exported into a selected Office format. | Review the output format and its limitations before handoff. |
| Missing | The expected item is absent from the result or report. | Check the source scope, hidden-file setting, and report exceptions. |
Google Drive has source types that need special handling
Google-native Docs, Sheets, and Slides are exported to Office formats. Google Forms, Sites, and shortcuts are not ordinary file bytes and appear as skipped items rather than silently disappearing. The report is where those decisions should be visible.
For an offboarding archive, send the report to the owner with the archive so they can confirm whether the converted files are sufficient or whether a separate Google-native handoff is required. The Google Drive export guide explains the format boundary in more detail.
Choose the next step from the report
- Rerun with include-hidden when the missing items are hidden local files.
- Resume after fixing a failed source or destination.
- Keep skipped Google-native items in the exception list when they need a separate workflow.
- Review converted files before calling an offboarding or migration complete.
Make the archive reviewable
FolderManifest copies the folder locally or to a supported destination, then creates a report with the files that arrived and the files that need attention.
Frequently asked questions
Are skipped files the same as failed files?
No. A failed file was expected to transfer but could not be written or verified. A skipped item is recorded because the source cannot provide it as a normal archive byte stream or because the chosen source settings excluded it.
Why do Google Drive files show as converted?
Google-native Docs, Sheets, and Slides do not have the same downloadable byte representation as ordinary files. Safe Archive exports them to the selected Office format and reports the conversion so the result is not mistaken for a byte-for-byte copy.