Why iCloud Drive update?

[blackxacto]

I have two iMacs, 17,1 w Mojave and 19,1 w Catalina. Catalina Mac can see the Mojave Mac via bluetooth. I am trying to sign out of iCloud on the Mojave iMac. I am using the same Apple account on both Macs. I use iCloud for my desktop on the Catalina iMac, and for the Mojave iMac. When trying to sign out of the Mojave iCloud account, why must it download 52GB of DATA to the Mojave iMac before I can sign out? Signing out of iCloud is putting52GB data in a Mojave User folder called "iCloud Drive (Archive)".

Why must it do this 52GB downloading? When it asked me do I want to keep data from calendar, etc. did it include the entire iCloud Drive folder? I thought it was only keeping small data, like bookmarks, etc.

 

[IowaLynn]

When you sign out of iCloud, you'll be asked if you want to keep a copy of the information that you store in iCloud on your device. Whatever you choose, your information will remain in iCloud.

Sign out of iCloud on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV, or Mac - Apple Support

 

[blackxacto]

I thought by clicking yes, all it was was addresses, passwords, calendar, etc. NOT my entire iCloud Drive folder. Is there anyway to save small data, but not my ENTIRE iCloud Drive?

 

[IowaLynn]

I thought by clicking yes, all it was was addresses, passwords, calendar, etc. NOT my entire iCloud Drive folder. Is there anyway to save small data, but not my ENTIRE iCloud Drive?

Oops, a "No" was what you want.

I exported my entire Photos Library to a local drive - not my home folder. Each app may - anything that is in the iCloud (sidebar) should be able to show a column of online status - copying to a local drive should trigger a download and copy. Or just download.