A client-server system for transferring a database from a server to a client across database types, vendors and without development effort. The system providing a server having access to a source database to be transferred to a client. The source database having metadata associated therewith including information regarding the structure and fields of the source database. The system including a client which communicates with the server through a network. The client having a data access application for processing the data received from the server and generating and populating a copy of the source database for use by the client.