Abstract: A data handling and transfer system includes an interface for receiving or retrieving blocks of data from different applications programs including electronic prescription generating software, the blocks of data being encoded in accordance with respective formatting conventions. The system also has a first code translator and a second code translator, the first code translator being operatively tied to the interface for converting each incoming data block from the respective formatting convention to a predetermined common formatting convention. This first code translator includes (a) a data field detector for identifying types of data elements in the incoming data blocks and (b) a definition attach module operatively connected to the data field detector for associating data definitions with respective data elements.