In order to transfer data between two databases, a computer program automatically
establishes a field map between the record structures of the two databases using
information identifying the record structure of one of the databases. The field
map is established automatically by correlating a first plurality of the fields
of the first database to a second plurality of the fields of the second database
to establish a field map. The data stored in the first plurality of fields of a
plurality of the records of the first database is then translated in accordance
with the field map. The information identifying the record structure of one of
the databases identifies the record structure according to a selected field identification
protocol identifying the categories and properties of the fields in the record
structure of that database. This information may be transmitted to the computer
program ahead of any data transfer so that a data transfer protocol, including
the field map, may be established prior to the start of the data transfer.
