Locating files using a durable and universal file identifier

A computing device, comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• at least one computer storage medium having computer executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing device to:
• receive a request for a content universal resource identifier (URI) for a renamed file, the request specifying a last known path to the renamed file on a storage volume;
• and
• responsive to receiving the request,
• locate an object identifier (ID) property for the renamed file, the object ID property comprising a unique ID corresponding to the renamed file,
• locate a volume ID property comprising a unique ID for the storage volume,
• determine that the renamed file is stored in a known folder,
• create the content URI for the renamed file, the content URI comprising a file protocol URI for the renamed file having a query string comprising the object ID property, the volume ID property, or a known folder property identifying the known folder when the renamed file is stored in the known folder,
• wherein the file protocol URI is associated with an activation URI comprising a URI for activating an application associated with the renamed file;
• and
• return the content URI in response to the request, whereby the content URI is usable to locate the renamed file in place of using the last known path, when the file is renamed;
• and wherein the activation URI is usable to:
• activate the application associated with the renamed file using the activation URI;
• and
• access the renamed file, by way of the application, at the location of the renamed file.

At least one computer storage medium having computer executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by one or more processors of a computing device, cause the computing device to:

• determine whether a moved or renamed file is located at a last known path specified by a file protocol URI;
• wherein the file protocol URI is associated with an activation URI comprising a URI for activating an application associated with the moved or renamed file;
• responsive to determining that the moved or renamed file is not located at the last known path specified by the file protocol URI,
• obtain one or more parameters from a query string of the file protocol URI, the one or more parameters usable to locate the moved or renamed file in lieu of the last known path specified by the file protocol URI, and
• determine a location of the moved or renamed file using the parameters from the query string of the file protocol URI;
• cause an activation of the application associated with the moved or renamed file using the activation URI;
• and
• cause an access of the moved or renamed file to be made, by way of the application, at the determined location of the moved or renamed file.