Abstract: Methods and systems for preparing source data files by a processing system. The processing system receives, either through an automated process or through manual entry, source data for a source computer system. Next, the processing system compares the value of the dimensions of the source data to the value of the data dimensions of the manipulation program and identifies the source data dimension whose value exceeds the value of the corresponding manipulation program dimension limitation. The processing system reformats the source data so that the exceeded dimension is converted to a second dimension whose value is within the limitation of the corresponding manipulation program dimension. After reformatting the source data, the processing system outputs the reformatted data to the manipulation program.