Abstract: Data is now able to be transferred back and forth between computer systems which have disparate file systems, e.g., between a computer having a hierarchical file system and a computer having a nonhierarchical file system. The differences, however, are not limited to the file storage system. Data may now be transferred across different platforms, different human and computer languages, different binary codes, etc. From one computer system the associated metadata is stored in a interpretable format on the second computer system so that when data and its associated metadata are transferred, the second computer system can interpret the transferred data. Data transfer can be accomplished in both directions.