Data is now able to be transferred back and forth between computer systems which have disparate file systems, e.g., between a computer having a hierarchical file system and a computer having a nonhierarchical file system. The differences, however, are not limited to the file storage system. Data may now be transferred across different platforms, different human and computer languages, different binary codes, etc. From one computer system the associated metadata is stored in a interpretable format on the second computer system so that when data and its associated metadata are transferred, the second computer system can interpret the transferred data. Data transfer can be accomplished in both directions. Thus, a tool writer or a software developer using a integrated development environment, such as Eclipse, on a Linux workstation with its hierarchical file system may download source files and other resources from an iSeries computer server with its OS/400 nonhierarchical file system, modify the resources, and then put them back onto the iSeries machine for use on the iSeries. The metadata of the source file and other resources are stored in a .properties file which, if in XML format, supports the transfer of resources across the Internet.