Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- software:squirrel:full_site_archive_restore [2025/03/26 13:46] – support@smikar.com
+++ software:squirrel:full_site_archive_restore [2025/10/10 10:20] (current) – support@smikar.com
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-====== 🏁 How to Archive a Full SharePoint Online Site ======
+====== 🚫 How to Exclude Document Libraries and Paths from Archiving ======
-[[https://www.smikar.com/how-to-archive-a-complete-sharepoint-online-site/|Archiving an entire SharePoint Online site]] using [[https://www.smikar.com/squirrel/|Squirrel]] is an efficient way to optimize storage, meet compliance requirements, and maintain a tidy Microsoft 365 environment.
+Excluding specific document libraries or folder paths from archiving allows you to prevent Squirrel from processing certain content during automated archiving policies. This is useful when you need to keep active working folders, sensitive directories, or frequently accessed content outside the archive scope.
-This guide walks administrators through the step-by-step process of fully archiving a SharePoint Online site using Squirrel.
+This guide explains how to use the **Excluded Libraries and Paths** modal to manage exclusions and leverage wildcard patterns for flexible path filtering.
 ----
-===== 🧭 Steps to Archive a SharePoint Online Site =====
+===== 🧭 Understanding Exclusion Scope =====
+**Important:** Exclusions only apply to **automated archiving policies**. If you manually archive content using "Archive/Restore by path" or by selecting individual files/folders, these exclusions will **not** apply.
+----
+===== 📋 Steps to Exclude a Document Library or Path =====
 ^ **Step** ^ **Description** ^ **Image** ^
-| **Step 1: Access the Squirrel Archive Dashboard** | Log into the Squirrel web portal. From the left-side menu, go to **Site Archive Settings** and locate the SharePoint site you wish to archive. | {{:software:squirrel:squirrel_menu_new.png?400}} |
+| **Step 1: Open the Exclusions Modal** | Navigate to the Squirrel web portal and access the **Excluded Libraries and Paths** modal from your settings or archive configuration menu. | {{:software:squirrel:exclude_button.png?400}} |
-| **Step 2: Select the SharePoint Site** | Within the dashboard, identify the target site. Ensure it meets your archiving criteria (e.g., low activity, aged content). | {{:software:squirrel:site_archive_settings.png?400}} |
+| **Step 2: Search for a SharePoint Site** | In the "Enter Site Name" field, begin typing the name of your SharePoint site. The search activates after entering at least 3 characters. A dropdown will display matching sites. Click to select your target site. | {{:software:squirrel:exclude_dropdown.png?400}} |
-| **Step 3: Start the Archiving Process** | Click the **Archive** button next to the selected site. Confirm the prompt to initiate the archive job. The site will now be added to the archive queue. | {{:software:squirrel:archive_prompt.png?400}} |
+| **Step 3: Select a Library or Path** | Once a site is selected, the "Library or Path Name" field becomes active. Click the field to view available document libraries, or start typing to search. Select a library from the dropdown or manually enter a custom path name. | {{:software:squirrel:exclude_filled.png?400}} |
-| **Step 4: Monitor Archiving Progress** | Go to the **Archive Queue** in the Squirrel dashboard. Here, you can monitor file processing and track progress as files are offloaded to Azure Blob Storage. | {{:software:squirrel:archive_queue_new.png?400}} |
+| **Step 4: Review the Generated URL** | The "Library or Path URL" field automatically populates based on your selections. You can also manually edit this URL or paste a complete path to exclude. | {{:software:squirrel:exclude_window.png?400}} |
-| **Step 5: Verify the Archived Data** | After the archive process is complete, go back to SharePoint. Open the document library and confirm that original files have been replaced with **stub files**, and content is now securely stored in Azure. | {{:software:squirrel:sharepoint_site_archived.png?400}} |
+| **Step 5: Exclude the Item** | Click the **Exclude Item** button to add the library or path to your exclusion list. A success notification will confirm the action.|
-| **Step 6: Restoring Archived Files** | If a file needs to be recovered, go to the **Restore** section in Squirrel. Find the file or site and click **Restore**. The file will be rehydrated and returned to its original SharePoint location. | {{:software:squirrel:stub_details.png?400}} |
+| **Step 6: View Excluded Items** | Scroll down to the "Currently Excluded Items" section to see all active exclusions. Each entry displays the name and full URL of the excluded location. | {{:software:squirrel:exclusions_table.png?400}} |
 ----
-===== ✅ Conclusion =====
+===== 🎯 Using Wildcards to Exclude Path Patterns =====
-Archiving an entire SharePoint Online site using Squirrel is a straightforward process that provides powerful benefits:
+Wildcards allow you to exclude multiple paths that share a common naming pattern, without needing to add each one individually.
+==== Wildcard Syntax ====
+Enclose any text value in **percent symbols (%)** to create a wildcard pattern:
+<code>
+https://Contoso.sharepoint.com/sites/finance/Shared Documents/%ignore%
+</code>
+This pattern will exclude **any file path** that contains "ignore" anywhere in its folder structure.
+==== Examples of Excluded Paths ====
+The following paths **WILL be skipped** by archiving:
+  * .../Shared Documents/someignorefolder/file.docx
+  * .../Shared Documents/IgnoreThis/file.xlsx
+  * .../Shared Documents/abcignorexyz/sub/file.pdf
+  * .../Shared Documents/folder1/folder2/ignore/file.docx
+==== Examples of Non-Excluded Paths ====
+The following paths **will NOT be skipped**:
+  * .../Shared Documents/approvals/file.docx (doesn't contain "ignore")
+  * .../Shared Documents/versions/file.pdf (doesn't contain "ignore")
+  * .../Shared Documents/ignoredoc.docx (wildcard only matches folder names, not filenames)
+**Tip:** Wildcards are case-insensitive and match partial text within folder names.
+----
+===== 🗑️ Removing an Exclusion =====
+^ **Step** ^ **Description** ^ **Image** ^
+| **Step 1: Locate the Exclusion** | In the "Currently Excluded Items" section, find the library or path you want to remove from the exclusion list. | {{:software:squirrel:locate_exclusion.png?400}} |
+| **Step 2: Click the Trash Icon** | Click the trash/delete icon next to the item you wish to remove. A confirmation prompt will appear. | {{:software:squirrel:trash_icon.png?400}} |
+| **Step 3: Confirm Removal** | Click "OK" in the confirmation dialog to remove the exclusion. The item will be deleted from your exclusion list and will now be included in automated archiving policies. | {{:software:squirrel:confirm_removal.png?400}} |
+----
+===== ⚠️ Important Notes =====
+  * **Path Format:** Only forward slashes (/) are allowed in paths and URLs. Backslashes (\) are not supported and will trigger a validation error.
+  * **Site Selection Required:** You must select a site before you can choose a library or enter a path name.
+  * **Automatic URL Generation:** When you select a site and library, the URL is automatically generated. You can manually edit this if needed.
+  * **Clear and Start Over:** Use the "Clear" button next to the site search to reset all fields and start a new exclusion entry.
+----
+===== ✅ Conclusion =====
-- 📉 Reduces storage usage and costs
+Using the Excluded Libraries and Paths feature in Squirrel provides granular control over your archiving strategy:
-- 🗃️ Keeps historical data organized
-- 🔁 Supports quick restoration when needed
-By following this guide, administrators can confidently manage site-wide archival, helping teams stay compliant and efficient — without sacrificing access to valuable data.
+  * 🎯 Protect active working folders from automatic archiving
+  * 🔀 Use wildcards to exclude multiple paths with similar patterns
+  * 🛡️ Keep sensitive or frequently-accessed content readily available
+  * ⚙️ Maintain full control over what gets archived automatically
+By following this guide, administrators can fine-tune their archiving policies to match organizational needs while ensuring critical content remains accessible in SharePoint Online.