Systems, components, devices, and methods for transferring files are provided. An example file is a container file comprising a plurality of component files. A non-limiting example method is a method for transferring a container file over a network to a remote device. The method includes the step of accessing a container file, the container file comprising a plurality of components. The method also includes the step of transmitting metadata information for the plurality of components to the remote device. The method further includes the step of determining components from the plurality of components to transmit to the remote device. The method additionally includes the step of transmitting component data items for the determined components to the remote device.