1. A computer implemented method for tracking file transitions comprising: identifying the occurrence of file transitions associated with corresponding computer files, wherein said file transitions are of transition types to be tracked and said corresponding computer files are associated with at least one computer processing device; generating at least one transition-related element of metadata that characterizes an associated file transition for each identified occurrence of a file transition that is tracked; storing generated transition-related elements of metadata; receiving by a computer processing device, a request for historical file transition information; transforming previously stored metadata into a query response by aggregating transition-related elements of metadata corresponding to at least two instances of a computer file that is associated with said request for historical information; and providing responsive to said request, information derived from said aggregated elements of metadata.