A user is provided with the choice of selecting either a client or a server for providing either local or remote services on a data file, respectively, if both the server and the client have the resources for the desired service. The user may select the client or the server upon requesting a particular operation or service on a data file or may enter pre-selections according to which of the client or the server will be selected for execution of the operation. A client program and a server program for providing the service may be divided into at least two modules and the client and server may be selected for executing the first and second modules.