Abstract: In a method and system for processing document data in a document processing system, document data are generated on a document generation computer. Document data are transmitted from the document generation computer to a document processing computer. Processed data are forwarded to a document output system. To optimize control of document output, in the processing computer control data are added to or removed from transmitted document data. A control buffer file for the added control data and a document buffer file for the document data are automatically formed and stored by a control device program running on the processing computer. The output system is monitored with the control data by a monitoring computer.