A few challenges related to the Windows system

[merendo]

The (probably more elegant) alternative would be to write my own filesystem driver, which would make the files appear to be there, when in fact, they're still on a remote server and only being downloaded to the local system on demand (like Dropbox). Unfortunately, I have not a single clue how to do that.

[SFSxOI]

Hello everyone.

Challenge two: Is there a way to detect whenever someone opens a file somewhere on the system? All I'd need to know is the name and location of the file, that's all. So my programme would listen for file opens all the time, and be notified when any file is opened. Is there a way to do that?

Thanks a lot!
merendo

Assuming a network of which you are a/the administrator: Sure, just periodically poll the tasks active on computers in the system. Each open file will have a PID, handle, user name, and file name in the active tasks. Just open up Task Manager (taskman.exe) on your own computer to get an idea of the info available. There wont be a location of the file showing but by using the PID and knowing the user you can tell which machine the user is logged on to then "remotely" by using the PID you can get the location of that file from the "remote" machine. Alternatively, once again assuming your the network administrator, configure the networked machines to report when a certain file or any file is accessed via logging configuration, the poll the logs when you need to do so.