1. A method of providing a file stored in a computer system with version-specific information relating to a replicator application that is independent from an application used to create the file, the method comprising: receiving a request from the replicator application to create a version-specific attribute associated with the file, wherein the version-specific attribute contains version-specific information relating to the replicator application; maintaining the version-specific attribute to reflect relevant updates to the file by automatically invalidating the version-specific information in response to a predetermined event, wherein the version-specific attribute comprises mask information providing information related to which predetermined events invalidate the version-specific information; receiving a request from the replicator application to evaluate the version-specific attribute; and providing the version specific information to the replicator application in response to the request to evaluate the version-specific attribute.