How to open file in Windows while not blocking its renaming

Question

Is there a way to keep a file open, while not blocking its renaming by another application?

Keeping the file open does not block its renaming in Unix. Can I achieve the same behavior in Windows?

Answer 1

I am afraid not. Windows handles open files very different from unix (under *ux you can even move or delete a file without interfering with an open handle). Maybe with a new filesystem its possible (try the ext3 filesystem driver for windows for example)

Answer 2

You need to open your file with the sharing mode FILE_SHARE_DELETE (0x00000004).

See MSDN help for the CreateFile API.