# File Resources **File resources** describe the characteristics of files and how in-stream data is converted when a file enters a Virtual File System, is read from a Virtual File System, or is used within the Virtual File System by Data Mover. The settings specified in a File Resource are divided into **Local** and **Remote**: * **Local settings** define the attributes that a file will have when it is inserted into the Virtual File System. * **Remote settings** relate to files received from a remote source or sent to a remote destination. These settings describe either the content of the file being received or the content to be sent. File Resource settings apply to the file contents (local or remote) and are organized into the following categories: * **File format**: defines the characteristics of the plain file, such as text or binary content, record format, end‑of‑line convention, and character set name. * **Security**: specifies whether and how the file is protected during exchange. * **Compression**: describes if and how the file is compressed. * **Location**: defines where the file is positioned or accessed. * **Disposition Rules**: describe how existing content is handled when items are created or updated, and what action is taken after content is retrieved. When a **File Resource** is defined, it is mandatory to specify both the local and remote settings, even if only the remote settings are used. As a general rule, **local settings are not applied when the file already exists in the Virtual File System**. For example, when a file is sent to a remote destination, its content is described by the Virtual File System attributes, and the local settings defined in the File Resource are ignored. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.primeur.com/data-mover-1.21/contracts/file-resources.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.