Abstract: The present invention achieves technical advantages as devices, software, and methods for generating a database file, such as an OBDC compliant database file, based on the contents of a character file, such as an ASCII character file. The preferred device is a computer system in a healthcare network that generates a payer claim form based on a provider claim form. The method generally receives a character file, selects a map, and uses the map to generate a database file. To practice the method, software may be loaded onto a computing platform and then executed according to the method. Furthermore, the invention may be embodied on a software medium, such as a CD ROM, or transmitted over the internet as a data signal. Also, the invention may be reversed in operation to produce a character file based on a database file.