What Files and Extensions are Excluded from the Sync Process
Overview
As an administrator, you can restrict file types from being synchronized to the server using policy settings. Specifically, the Excluded Extensions policy lists default excluded extensions that can optionally be modified to accommodate the needs of an organization. Using this policy, you can help protect organizations and user accounts from files that might contain malicious code. Other file types, such as temporary and system files and folders, are permanently blocked from the system (hard-coded).
This article will provide information on hard-coded excluded directories and extensions, as well as default excluded extensions that are configurable through policies.
Hard-Coded Excluded Extensions
Temporary Files
Extension |
Description |
Any file name beginning or ending with ~ |
For example, Microsoft Word or PowerPower files |
Any file name beginning with ~$ |
|
.lock |
Libre/open office lock files |
.tmp |
All .tmp files, including Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint files |
.dwl |
AutoCAD files |
.dwl2 |
AutoCAD files |
sav*.tmp |
AutoCAD files |
.atmp |
AutoCAD files |
.laccdb |
Microsoft Access lock file |
.swp |
Microsoft Access lock file |
Temporary Folders
Temporary folders are also hard-coded as excluded from the sync process. These folders include:
Folder |
Description |
*temp |
temp folder and anything below it |
*tmp |
tmp folder and anything below it |
DfsrPrivate |
A hidden folder used to stage files for replication actions. |
System Files and Folders
System files and folders are also hard-coded as excluded from the sync process. These system files and folders include:
System File or Folder |
Description |
desktop.ini |
A file in the Windows operating system used to define how a folder should be displayed |
Thumbs.db |
A file that stores thumbnail cache |
.DS_Store |
A file in the OS X operating system used for storing custom attributes of a folder |
.ICON |
A file in the OS X operating system used for adding a custom folder icon. |
*WINDIR |
Path to the windows directory |
*System Volume Information |
Path to the System Volume Information folder |
*MSOCache* |
Path to the MSOCache folder |
*I386 |
Path to the I386 folder |
*\Documents and Settings\All Users\AppData\* |
Path to the AppData folder |
*\Documents and Settings\*\NTUSER.DAT |
Path to the NTUSER.DAT folder |
*\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\* |
Path to the Application Data folder |
*\Documents and Settings\*\Cookies\* |
Path to the Cookie’s folder |
*\Documents and Settings\*\Local Settings\* |
Path to the Local Settings folder |
*\Documents and Settings\*\NetHood\* |
Path to the NetHood folder |
*\Documents and Settings\*\PrintHood\* |
Path to the PrintHood folder |
*\Documents and Settings\*\History\* |
Path to the History folder |
*\Program Files\Carbonite\Carbonite Backup\* |
Path to the Carbonite Backup folder |
*\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Clipart\* |
Path to the Microsoft Clipart folder |
*Recycle.Bin |
The Recycle Bin |
*\ProgramData\* |
Path to the ProgramData folder |
Folders Excluded from Being Backed Up
vBoxxCloud allows end users to back up folders that exist on their local machine. Certain folders, however, are excluded from being backed up (these mostly apply to Mac OS X).
Folder |
Description |
/Users/*/.Trash/* |
Path to the Trash folder |
/Users/*/Library/Caches/* |
Path to the Cache folder |
/Users/*/Library/Cookies/* |
Path to the Cookies folder |
/Users/*/Library/Logs/* |
Path to the Logs folder |
/Users/*/Library/PubSub/Feeds/* |
Path to the Feeds folder |
/Users/*/Library/Application Support/SyncServices/Local/* |
Path to the Sync Services local folder |
/Users/*/Burn Folder*/* |
Path to the Burn Folder |
/Users/*/Parallels/* |
Path to the Parallels folder |
/Users/*/Virtual Machines*/* |
Path to the Virtual Machines folder |
Default Excluded Extensions Configurable Through Policy Settings
Administrators can also define additional excluded extensions using policies. The Excluded Extensions policy setting maintains the following list of default excluded extensions; however, these can be modified according to the needs and preferences of the individual organization.
Note: Information displayed in the following table was collected from FileInfo.com. For more information, please reference FileInfo.com.
Configurable Excluded Extensions |
File Type |
.$$ |
Temporary File |
.$db |
dBASE Temporary File |
.113 |
Iomega Backup File |
.3g2 |
3GPP2 Multimedia File |
.3gp |
3GPP Multimedia File |
.3gp2 |
. 3GPP Multimedia File |
.3gpp |
3GPP Media File |
.3mm |
3D Movie Maker Movie Project |
.a |
Static Library |
.abf |
Analysis Services Backup File |
.abk |
Automatic Backup File |
.afm |
Adobe Font Metrics File |
.ani |
Windows Animated Cursor |
.ann |
Lingvo Dictionary Annotation File |
.asf |
Advanced Systems Format File |
.avi |
Audio Video Interleave File |
.avs |
AVS Preset File |
.bac |
Backup File |
.bak |
Firefox Bookmarks Backup |
.bck |
VMX Backup File |
.bcm |
Business Contact Manager File |
.bd2 |
Lacerte Tax File |
.bdb |
Microsoft Works Database Backup File |
.bdf |
Binary Data File |
.bkf |
Windows Backup Utility File |
.bkp |
Backup File |
.bmk |
BillMinder Backup File |
.bsc |
Visual Studio Source Browser Information File |
.bsf |
Blu-ray AVC Video File |
.cab |
Windows Cabinet File |
.cf1 |
Common File Format 1 File |
.chm |
Compiled HTML Help File |
.chq |
Microsoft Help Combined Full-Text Search File |
.chw |
Compiled Help Index File |
.cnt |
Help Contents File |
.com |
DOS Command File |
.cpl |
Windows Control Panel Item |
.cur |
Windows Cursor |
.dbs |
SQLBase Database File |
.dev |
Dev-C++ Project File |
.dfont |
Mac OS X Data Fork Font |
.dll |
Dynamic Link Library |
.dmp |
Windows Memory Dump |
.drv |
Device Driver |
.dv |
Digital Video File |
.dvd |
DOS Device Driver |
.dvr |
Microsoft Recorded TV Show |
.dvr-ms |
Microsoft Digital Video Recording |
.eot |
Embedded OpenType Font |
.evt |
Windows Event Viewer Log File |
.exe |
Windows Executable File |
.ffa |
Find Fast Status File |
.ffl |
Find Fast Document List |
.ffo |
Find Fast Document Properties Cache |
.ffx |
After Effects Preset File |
.flc |
FLIC Animation |
.flv |
Flash Video File |
.fnt |
Windows Font File |
.fon |
Generic Font File |
.ftg |
Full Text Group |
.fts |
Full Text Search |
.fxp |
FoxPro Compiled Program |
.gid |
Windows Help Global Index File |
.grp |
StarCraft Graphics Group File |
.hdd |
Parallels Desktop Hard Disk File |
.hlp |
Windows Help File |
.hxi |
Compiled Help File |
.hxq |
Microsoft Help Merged Query Index File |
.hxr |
Microsoft Help Data File |
.hxs |
Help 2 Compiled Help File |
.ico |
Icon File |
.idb |
IDA Database File |
.idx |
Movie Subtitle File |
.ilk |
Incremental Linking File |
.img |
Disc Image Data File |
.inf |
Setup Information File |
.ini |
Windows Initialization File |
.ins |
Adlib Tracker Instrument File |
.ipf |
SMS Installer Script |
.iso |
Disc Image File |
.isp |
IIS Internet Service Provider Settings |
.its |
Impulse Tracker Sample |
.jar |
Java Archive File |
.jse |
JScript Encoded File |
.kbd |
3ds Max Keyboard Shortcuts File |
.kext |
Mac OS X Kernel Extension |
.key |
Software License Key File |
.lex |
Adobe Linguistic Library Data File |
.lib |
Generic Data Library |
.library-ms |
Windows Library Description File |
.lnk |
Windows File Shortcut |
.log |
Log File |
.lwfn |
Adobe Type 1 Mac Font File |
.m1p |
MPEG-1 File |
.m1v |
MPEG-1 Video File |
.m2p |
MPEG-2 Program Stream File |
.m2v |
MPEG-2 Video |
.m4v |
iTunes Video File |
.mem |
FoxPro Variable File |
.mkv |
Matroska Video File |
.mov |
Apple QuickTime Movie |
.mp2 |
Heroes of Might and Magic II Map File |
.mp2v |
MPEG-2 Video File |
.mp4 |
MPEG-4 Video File |
.mpe |
MPEG Movie File |
.mpeg |
MPEG Movie |
.mpg |
MPEG Video File |
.mpv |
MPEG Elementary Stream Video File |
.mpv2 |
MPEG-2 Video Stream |
.msc |
Microsoft Management Console Snap-in Control File |
.msi |
Windows Installer Package |
.msm |
Windows Installer Merge Module |
.msp |
Windows Installer Patch |
.mst |
Windows Installer Setup Transform File |
.ncb |
Visual C++ IntelliSense Database |
.nt |
Windows NT Startup File |
.nvram |
VMware NVRAM File |
.o |
Compiled Object File |
.obj |
Wavefront 3D Object File |
.obs |
ObjectScript Script File |
.ocx |
ActiveX Control |
.old |
Backup File |
.ost |
Outlook Offline Folder File |
.otf |
OpenType Font |
.pch |
Precompiled Header File |
.pd6 |
Windows Photo Gallery Data File |
.pf |
Private File |
.pfa |
Printer Font ASCII File |
.pfb |
Printer Font Binary File |
.pfm |
Printer Font Metrics File |
.pnf |
Precompiled INF File |
.pol |
Windows Policy File |
.pref |
Preferences File |
.prf |
PICS Rules File |
.prg |
Program File |
.prn |
Printable File |
.pst |
Outlook Personal Information Store File |
.pvs |
Parallels Desktop Configuration File |
.pwl |
Windows Password List |
.QBA |
QuickBooks Accountant's Copy Work File |
.QBA.TLG |
QuickBooks Transaction Log File |
.QBW |
QuickBooks Data File |
.QBW.TLG |
QuickBooks File |
.qt |
Apple QuickTime Movie |
.rdb |
Wavelet Video Images File |
.reg |
Registry File |
.rll |
Microsoft Resource Library |
.rox |
Roxio Project File |
.sbr |
Visual Studio Source Browser Intermediate File |
.scf |
DNA Sequence Chromatogram File |
.scr |
Windows Screensaver |
.sdb |
Custom Application Compatibility Database |
.shb |
Windows Document Shortcut |
.suit |
Macintosh Font Suitcase |
.swf |
Macintosh Font Suitcase |
.swp |
Vi Swap File |
.sys |
Motorola Driver File |
.theme |
Microsoft Plus! Desktop Theme |
.tivo |
TiVo Video File |
.tmp |
Temporary File |
.tms |
Telemate Script |
.ttc |
TrueType Font Collection |
.ttf |
TrueType Font |
.v2i |
Norton Ghost Virtual Volume Image |
.vbe |
VBScript Encoded Script File |
.vga |
VGA Display Driver |
.vgd |
Generic CADD VGA Driver |
.vhd |
Virtual PC Virtual Hard Disk |
.video |
aTube Catcher Video File |
.vmc |
Windows Virtual Machine Configuration File |
.vmdk |
Virtual Machine Disk File |
.vmsd |
VMware Snapshot Metadata File |
.vmsn |
VMware Snapshot State File |
.vmx |
VMware Configuration File |
.vxd |
Virtual Device Driver |
.win |
FoxPro Window Settings |
.wpk |
Nero Wave Editor File |