Abstract: Endian format affects the representation of both literal data and pointer data whether represented in a global data specification (i.e., in a data section) or as immediate operand values in-line with Intercode instructions. The present invention provides for endian-independent representation of literal data, pointer data, literal operands and pointer operands. For literal data represented in a data section, an associated data translation script provides an Intercode translator with translation instructions for transforming byte ordering within the data section on a unit-of-storage by unit-of-storage basis (if required for the particular target processor). In this way, literal data of arbitrary structure can be specified independent of endian format. For pointer data represented in the data section, the associated data translation script provides the Intercode translator with relocation expressions for transforming pointer data values to effective memory addresses.