A method leverages the file format information used by a target application to convert a source dataset into an encoding usable by the target application without converting the source dataset before migration and without modifying the target application. The source data when on the source system has random portions of various data types that are encoded in a source encoding based on data type. The target application, which typically processes data encoded in a target encoding that is based on data type, is able to process the source data despite the source encoding using file format information and a modified compiler library.