Immutable Content

Preserving a delivery or a set of records requires deciding both whether its files can change and whether they can be removed. Files.com provides two controls with different scopes: a finalized Snapshot protects a selected copy from new changes, while Archive Only Mode prevents changes and deletion across an entire Site.

These restrictions apply to everyone, including Site Administrators and Parent Site Administrators working on a Child Site. They apply through every connection method and continue to apply when files are reached through Child Site access or a Partner Channel Route Path.

Finalized Snapshots

A Snapshot preserves an independent copy of selected files, so the working originals can continue to change. Finalization closes the Snapshot to new uploads, copies, moves, renames, and deletions into or inside it. Its creator and administrators cannot reopen it or change its files.

The transfer exception is a copy or move already transferring into the Snapshot when finalization occurs. That transfer finishes and adds its file without replacing or removing a file present at finalization. A request that is still queued is refused when it starts. To preserve a complete set at a particular time, confirm that the intended transfers have finished before finalizing; the finalization date does not record when the last transfer finishes.

A Site Administrator can still change the Snapshot's name or expiration date, or delete the entire Snapshot. Expiration also removes it. Finalization alone protects files within the Snapshot without guaranteeing that the collection remains available. Snapshot Lifecycle covers finalization and retention.

Archive Only Mode

Archive Only Mode allows files and folders to be created and read while preventing stored content from being edited and files or folders from being renamed, moved, overwritten, or deleted. Copies can be added when they do not overwrite existing content. The mode is irreversible, so it fits a permanent archive rather than a working folder that needs cleanup or replacement.

The protection also covers a file's client-supplied modification time, Custom Metadata, and priority color. During the first 15 minutes after upload, only the uploading user, with the required permissions, can finish setting those attributes. FTP and WebDAV clients use this allowance because they transfer the file and set its time in separate operations. It never permits changing the file's contents, name, or location. Uploads without an associated user have no allowance; after the window, nobody can change the attributes, including administrators.

Site Administrators continue to manage users and configuration, subject to the same file restrictions. Archive Only Mode also governs operations through Remote Server Mounts, but it cannot prevent changes made directly on the remote storage outside Files.com. The Archive Only Mode guidance explains planning a dedicated archive Site and handling repeated deliveries without overwriting records.