Abstract: A data access client program resides on a local computer and a data access server program resides on a remote computer. The programs are adapted to enable an application program on the local computer to access data stored on the remote computer. The client and server programs are adapted to communicate with one another over a communication link, preferably one employing the Advanced Program to Program Communication (APPC) protocol. The user stores the attributes of remote files to be accessed on a predetermined computer. When the application program on the local computer issues a remote data access request, the data access client program communicates the request to the data access server program. The server is configured to obtain the previously stored file attributes and to access the data requested by the application program based thereon. The server returns the requested information to the client, which in turn provides the information to the application program.