A method and apparatus is provided for enabling a spreadsheet program with formula support on small devices (like PDAs) while minimizing the amount of memory space used by the program and the accompanying compiled code during transfer of files from the desktop to the small devices. The user can download a spreadsheet file from the desktop to the small device via a conduit. A conduit is any 2-way communication device which connects a desktop to a small device and allows the transfer of data. Conduit software can convert the data to be transferred into a format understandable by both the desktop and PDA programs. The conduit software can also evaluate and parse the formulas and functions needed by the current file before the transfer and generate compiled code for the functions needed by the current file before transfer.