This is a hypathetical application:
"A Remote Computer File Client/Server"(there's probably a better name for it). A program that would be able to access/navigate through files on another computer running the same program.

#1) I've never herd of anything like this (at least in a simple form)
#2) Hypathetically, I would assume this could be done with Game Maker
#3) I doubt I could make it w/o more "multiplayer" communication experience

This is just one of the random ideas for programs that I had. It would kinda cool to use if you were at school/work and forgot an important file on your computer. You could use this program to access and "download" files from your computer. This would work by only sending information about one folder at a time (not all or more to store them). When a file needs to be "downloaded" you could send the information of each byte of the file to be constructed (files bigger than like 5kb would take a rediculusly long time, so a better transfer method should probably be sought out).

I think on a technical appreciation level, this would be very big in a Game Maker based communtity. Tell me what you guys think.

There's a system in my college which lets me retrieve files from my at-school lab account folder. Obviously, I can't do it the other way.

Also both computers would have to be on for something like this to work, so either way you're going to have to have someone on the other end. It would certainly be a lot easier than having to walk someone unfamiliar with my computer through uploading it to the web so I could download it, or emailing it to myself, etc.

I always leave my computer on anyway, so if it happens to not be in Hibernate mode then something like this would work for me.

Does anyone think it would not be possible for GM to do this though?

Well I'm no hacker, but I'd think it'd be possible as long as you knew or had a way to find out your computer's ip address. Then again, I don't think there's a way for GM to copy files from one computer to another, so maybe not. Could be a dll though, maybe you could check the GMC for one.

Maybe you should drop Luke a PM about it, he'd probably know five times as much as any of us.

What's wrong with using Networks? Or are we talking about over the internet? Then you'd need a dedicated server, both sides to have the client program (which couldn't be done in GM, by the way). It'd be more easily accomplished by an email, file hosting site, or even an FTP software (like FileZilla).

Ok here's where I get my concept from. Mulitplayer games made with GM can communicate with one-another through "messages" with values, right? So lets say, for instance in VirtuaLife, I send someone a message that contains the bytes of a file. Those bytes could then be written to a file and create the file.

I've copied files in bytes on my computer before with GM so I know that can be done. But like I said previously, it would take a rediculous amount of time (like 15 seconds for 32KB).

What I don't know is if GM can just connect through the internet with out the need of a host or server, my assumption is naturally it can. It would probably be very easy to hack without and kind of security system, but I'm theres an easy way to provent that.

The purpos of this program would virtually mimic as if you were on the other computer(file-access-wise of coarse not GUI-wise) and navigate/download files.

I'm pretty sure there are programs available that already do this.

It may or may not be able to be accomplished in Game Maker. If, on the off chance that it could be done, then it be slow, a pain, and far from practical.

It's a good idea for an app that probably already exists, and can't be done well in Game Maker.

Yep, I've done it. The PM you sent me, I'll go ahead and answer here so people can see.

Actually, the concept of file transfer is going to be built into VirtuaLife pretty soon, because I'm allowing users to upload their own avatars.

File transfer over TCP means reading a file opened as a binary file (or datafile, as some people call it)... then you'd read the file, byte by byte. Buuuut the problem is, if your sending client is faster than your receiving server/client, then you'll get a buildup of packets.

So to compensate, you make the framerate of the receving party 2.5x or more than that of your sending client.

I reccomend 39dll for file transfer.

To get a fast transfer, instead of doing it on a byte-per-message basis, read 4 to 8 bytes from the file, and send them all at once. (make sure you read the correct amount of bytes on the receiving party! That would be a hilarious screwup.)

Now, that also brings up a too-much-too-little problem: if you try to send too many bytes at once, it'll slow back down. Too little amount of bytes at once, then it'll also be slow.
You have to find the right amount, based on connection speed. That's how FTP works.

Speaking of which, it's also possible to do SCP/FTP/SFTP with Game Maker as well.

Thanks alot for that great bundle of information! I wouldn't have factored that the sender or reciever processing speed would differ.

Now that I know it's 100% possible, I think I'll start researching this some more. I'll also have to take a look at that 39.dll. I've always seen game using it, but I was never interested in internet functions.

Internet functions are awesome. Ever since the first smartvirus I designed in 6th grade, network communications has been my major interest in programming. If you need any help, please ask in this thread instead of a PM (so the information is public) if you don't mind.

I can also give you my old project files, which consist of the DLL, and my server/client pair.