Abstract: A file system for a collection of data files on a microcontroller-based device, the microcontroller-based device including an arithmetic/logic unit, read/write memory, and program memory, and the file system comprising a data table stored in the program memory and a document table of contents stored on a host computer. The data table is a set of data files, and the document table of contents includes length and offset information for each data file. A method is also described for creating and managing a file system for a collection of data files on a microcontroller-based device, wherein the microcontroller-based device includes an arithmetic/logic unit, read/write memory, and program memory, wherein the method comprises the steps of providing a data table for storage in the program memory and providing a document table of contents for storage on a host computer.