1. A method for transferring data in an emission-monitoring system from a first computer to a second computer, comprising: generating a first message containing a first software variable having a first site-specific value that is transmitted from the first computer to the second computer, the first site-specific value indicative of whether one of a fault event, a maintenance event, or a calibration event associated with the first computer has occurred; receiving the first message at the second computer, the second computer storing the first site-specific value in a first record of a first database, the first record being associated with the first software variable; determining whether the first site-specific value is equal to a site-specific event indicator value indicative of an occurrence of an event; and if the first site-specific value is equal to the site-specific event indicator value then generating a second software variable having both a first predetermined name and a value equal to a first standardized value indicating that an event has occurred, else generating a third software variable having both the first predetermined name and a value equal to a second standardized value indicating that an event has not occurred.