# Datasets visible in "History size" but not in history **URL:** \ **Category:** usegalaxy.org support\ **Tags:** server-open-issue\ **Created:** [January 6, 2026, 5:00pm UTC](https://help.galaxyproject.org/t/datasets-visible-in-history-size-but-not-in-history/17205 "2026-01-06T17:00:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tl1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cc9497/32.png) [@tl1](https://help.galaxyproject.org/u/tl1)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2026, 5:00pm UTC](https://help.galaxyproject.org/t/datasets-visible-in-history-size-but-not-in-history/17205/1 "2026-01-06T17:00:53Z")
Hey, While generating new datasets within a history, I noticed earlier datasets were disapearing - they were still visible on through storage management and History Size. Why are they disapearing and how can I make them appear again in the history? They dont seem to be deleted or hidden. Thank you ---
**Author:** ![jennaj](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/help.galaxyproject.org/jennaj/32/27_2.png) [@jennaj](https://help.galaxyproject.org/u/jennaj)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2026, 5:34pm UTC](https://help.galaxyproject.org/t/datasets-visible-in-history-size-but-not-in-history/17205/2 "2026-01-06T17:34:00Z")
Welcome @tl1 Let’s find your data! I’ll list all the places to look in a history so you can check. 1. Check your Active, Deleted, and Hidden tabs 2. Review to see if any of the datasets had an implicit (automatic) format conversion. The second one is invoked for very simple direct data format changes. Examples could be uncompressing the data (`fasta.gz` → ` fasta`) or converting to an simpler format required by a tool (`bam` → `bed`). _Screenshots_ Inputting a compressed `fasta.gz` dataset to a tool that processes uncompressed `fasta` will have an extra annotation in the input select area – this example shows the new datatype used will be `fasta`, even through the original file is in the `fastq.gz` format. ![converted-1](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/galaxy/original/2X/9/9e113480ddeaa8a374d3b097825dc72d8a109ece.png) As the tool processes, a special type of hidden dataset is created – the converted format – and this data is nested within the original dataset to distinguish it from hidden datasets that represent unique data, such as datasets inside of a collection. ![converted-2](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/galaxy/original/2X/3/3dbe07e17d4b95b69c4f4fca6fcdd89583122c22.png) To see what this data is, their will be a new arrow icon added to the dataset, along with a number (the count of how many converted items there are – since it could be several!). ![converted-3](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/galaxy/original/2X/c/cdee0c065adda5117bc40641ef3ca6618bd4ac80.png) To activate this full view of the data, you can click on the converted items icon. If the converted icon is not showing up (stale view), you can try to toggle on the hidden tab first (or refreshing your browser window) then these will display on the datasets but you’ll still need to open the nested view by clicking on the icon. * * * Why do we do this? Minor changes like compressing/uncompressing data is something we can do for you! Then, to fully document what happened, in the history, we capture all intermediate versions of the data involved. Even a slightly different format may matter – and we want you to have access to the actual inputs. This is part of our mission of _complete reproducibility tracking_ for analysis projects. Please give this a try in your own history to see if this finds the data! And if you need more help, we can help more here. Would you like to [generate a share link to the history](https://help.galaxyproject.org/t/how-to-get-faster-help-with-your-question/11469) and post it back for review? I’m an admin at [UseGalaxy.org](http://UseGalaxy.org), so you could also let me know your public **username** (NOT email address to a public forum!) and the **name of the history** , and I can help to review that way as well. Thanks! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![jennaj](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/help.galaxyproject.org/jennaj/32/27_2.png) [@jennaj](https://help.galaxyproject.org/u/jennaj)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2026, 5:46pm UTC](https://help.galaxyproject.org/t/datasets-visible-in-history-size-but-not-in-history/17205/3 "2026-01-06T17:46:00Z")
Update: I found your history @tl1 – and you do have these converted datasets inside of it. However, there are are 10 instead of one for the alternative `tabix` format. I’d like to discuss this privately with you. You may have uncovered a bug! As far as I know, there should only be one converted version of the `tabix` format. Would you please write into the [UseGalaxy.org](http://UseGalaxy.org) administrative email at [galaxy-bugs@lists.galaxyproject.org](mailto:galaxy-bugs@lists.galaxyproject.org) so we can discuss? I’m concerned about how so many converted versions were created and would like to share this with our developers privately for their technical review – with your permission. I’m glad you wrote in and will watch for your email. Be sure to write in from the email address used for the account. I only reviewed one history so far but can help to review all of these and to get your account corrected. 🛠 ---
**Author:** ![tl1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cc9497/32.png) [@tl1](https://help.galaxyproject.org/u/tl1)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2026, 6:25pm UTC](https://help.galaxyproject.org/t/datasets-visible-in-history-size-but-not-in-history/17205/4 "2026-01-06T18:25:22Z")
Thank you! Just followed up by email. Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![jennaj](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/help.galaxyproject.org/jennaj/32/27_2.png) [@jennaj](https://help.galaxyproject.org/u/jennaj)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2026, 9:03pm UTC](https://help.galaxyproject.org/t/datasets-visible-in-history-size-but-not-in-history/17205/5 "2026-01-06T21:03:10Z")
Great, thank you @tl1 – I have your email and wanted to let you know I am still reviewing. More soon! 🧑‍🔬 ---
**Author:** ![tl1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cc9497/32.png) [@tl1](https://help.galaxyproject.org/u/tl1)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 12:06pm UTC](https://help.galaxyproject.org/t/datasets-visible-in-history-size-but-not-in-history/17205/6 "2026-01-12T12:06:45Z")
Hi! I am wondering if its best to start fresh with new history and reuploaded data (after purging my server). Will probably do it in a few hours, but waiting for your input since you were taking a look at it. Thank you