Abstract: A system and method is described for importing data from a source computer system, manipulating and transforming of that data, and exporting the data to a target computer system under control of a script processor using stored metadata definitions. Metadata is used to describe the properties of the data being manipulated. The system includes a means for manipulating the metadata definitions. The metadata definitions are created to import data into the system, export data from the system, create views of the external data, store generic format data within the system, manipulate generic format data within the system and to control data flow through the system. Data is imported into the system using an import data definition to map the external data into an import data bag. Data imported into an import data bag becomes independent of the original data source. Data is manipulated within the system using script control commands and data is transformed within the system using rule sets that act upon data bags.