System for replicating and associating file types with application programs among plurality of partitions in a server

A method and apparatus according to various aspects of the present invention provides a system for associating files with relevant application programs in a network. The applications are available on a network, suitably as application objects. Each application object also includes file type information associated with the application. When a user logs onto the network, the file type information is retrieved from each accessible application object. The application launcher stores the retrieved information in the local memory of the user workstation. When a file is selected at the user workstation, the user workstation checks its local memory for the file type information corresponding to the selected file. Because the information is periodically updated by the application launcher, the current information is available to associate a particular file type extension with an application stored remotely. As a result, the appropriate application may be initiated.