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.