Generic method for programmatically locating any document in a computer network system

In a distributed computer system having more than one computer connected through a network, a method for programmatically locating any remote file and building a shortcut for future reference to said remote file, said method comprising the steps of:

• a. creating a shortcut cache in a first computer if one does not exist;
• b. creating a mapping file in said first computer if one does not exist for storing name and versions of all remote files used in said computer system;
• c. searching said mapping file in said first computer for a shortcut name for said remote file, and if not found;
• d. searching said shortcut cache in said first computer for a shortcut name for said remote file, and if not found;
• e. locating a shortcut directory for the current user in the system registry of said first computer, and searching said shortcut directory for said shortcut name, and if not found;
• f. locating the shortcut directory for all users in the system registry of said first computer and search said directory for said shortcut name, and if found;
• g. storing said shortcut, which contains the location and name of said remote file, in said shortcut cache;
• h. logging data into said mapping file representative of the name and location of each shortcut of said remote file located;
• i. returning said location and name of said remote file to the requestor;
• and,
• j. updating said mapping file each time a new version of said shortcut of said remote file is located.

A storage medium encoded with machine-readable computer program code for programmatically locating any file and building a shortcut for future reference to said file, wherein, when the computer program is executed by a computer, the computer program performs the steps of:

• a. creating a shortcut cache if ones does not exist;
• b. creating a mapping file if one does not exist for storing name and versions of all files used in said computer system;
• c. searching said mapping file for a shortcut name for said file, and if not found;
• d. searching said shortcut cache for a shortcut name for said file, and if not found;
• e. locating the shortcut directory for the current user in the system registry, and searching said directory for said shortcut name, and if not found;
• f. locating the shortcut directory for all users in the system registry, and searching said directory for said shortcut name, and if found;
• g. storing said shortcut, which contains the location and name of said file, in said shortcut cache;
• h. logging data into said mapping file representative of the name and location of each shortcut located;
• i. returning said location and name of said file to the requestor;
• j. updating said mapping file each time a new version of said shortcut is located.

A storage medium encoded with machine-readable computer program code for programmatically locating any remote file and building a shortcut for future reference to said remote file, wherein, when the computer program is executed in a distributed computer system having more than one computer connected through a network, the computer program performs the steps of:

• a. creating a shortcut cache in a first computer if one does not exist;
• b. creating a mapping file in said first computer if one does not exist for storing name and versions of all remote files used in said computer system;
• c. searching said mapping file in said first computer for a shortcut name for said remote file, and if not found;
• d. searching said shortcut cache in said first computer for a shortcut name for said remote file, and if not found;
• e. locating a shortcut directory for the current user in the system registry of said first computer, and searching said shortcut directory for said shortcut name, and if not found;
• f. locating the shortcut directory for all users in the system registry of said first computer, and search said directory for said shortcut name, and if found;
• g. storing said shortcut, which contains the location and name of said remote file, in said shortcut cache;
• h. logging data into said mapping file representative of the name and location of each shortcut of said remote file located;
• i. returning said location and name of said remote file to the requestor;
• and,
• j. updating said mapping file each time a new version of said shortcut of said remote file is located.