A method and system for responding locally to requests for file metadata associated with files stored remotely includes a method of responding locally to requests for file metadata without downloading the file from a remote location. A directory structure representing an application program stored by a remote machine and metadata associated with each file comprising the stored application program are received from the remote machine. The directory and the metadata are stored. At least one request to access metadata associated with a specific tile in the directory structure is received. The stored metadata is used to respond to the at least one request.