When the online archive driver archives a file that has a dependency on another file, the driver can archive both files and preserve the dependency information. When the driver retains file dependency, and an archived file depends on another file, the driver copies both files to the archive and creates the same relative file structure. The driver does not delete the file on which the archived file depends from the original Encyclopedia volume, unless the driver archives both files.

If more than one archived file depends on the same file, the driver retains the original file dependency and typically retains only one copy of the file on which the archived files depend. The driver archives two copies of the file on which the other files depend, one for each file that is archived in each session.