A method by a computing device of a dispersed storage network (DSN) begins by determining whether alternate form data (AFD) exists for a data object. When the alternate form data does not exist, the method continues by identifying a content derivation function in accordance with an AFD policy of the DSN. The method continues by identifying a portion of the data object based on the content derivation function and identifying one or more sets of encoded data slices of a plurality of sets of encoded data slices corresponding to the portion of the data object. The method continues by generating at least a portion of the AFD based on the one or more sets of encoded data slices. The method continues by storing the at least a portion of the AFD within memory of the DSN in accordance with a storage approach.