 Google has announced that on September 30th, 2020, Google Drive will transition to a single parent model. Let's look at what this means and the impact it will have. Usually all files and folders in Google Drive have a parent folder and are arranged in a branching structure. However, Google Drive does not actually use a branching structure right now. On September 30th, Google Drive will transition to a hierarchical branching structure. Let's take a look at what that means and what exactly will happen. Google Drive's actual file structure is just a flat list of connected files. Files can have no parent folder. These are called orphaned files and usually result from shared folders. If somebody shares a folder with you, then you move a file to that shared folder, then somebody else deletes that shared folder. Then the files you add, it still exists. Only the owner of a file can delete it. As such, the file gets orphaned having no parent folder. You can find orphaned files by searching for is colon unorganized. Folders can also be orphaned. Most files and folders have just one parent folder. A file or folder, however, can be in multiple folders at the same time. This can be done by selecting the file and pressing Shift Z. Instead of the normal move file dialogue, you get a dialogue which allows you to add a reference to the file in another folder. Having a file in multiple folders can lead to some issues. It's impossible to directly delete a reference to the file since that would delete the file itself. Instead, you have to drag one reference of the file into the same folder of another which merges the two references together. Also, if you try to create a folder loop, then Google Drive will give you a vague cryptic error message. Due to these issues, Google has made an alternative system to allow a file to be in multiple folders, shortcuts. From a hierarchy perspective, shortcuts are just like normal files. However, when you double click a shortcut, you are taken to that shortcut's location. You can create a shortcut by right clicking on a file or folder and clicking Add a Shortcut to Drive. Deleting a shortcut deletes the shortcut, not the underlying file it points to. This system resolves almost all of the issues with files in multiple places. As such, on September 30th, all cases of multiple references to the same file will be turned into shortcuts. One of the references will be the main file and the rest will be shortcuts to that main file. Google hasn't said if or how orphan files are going to be affected by these changes. Thanks for watching.