Abstract: Status information control methods and status information control systems allow operators to define the criteria that provides a “ready” indication for an image forming device. An operator determines a number of required features for an output job. The control systems then monitor a selected image forming device to determine if the selected image forming device has all of the required features and if all the required features are available. If the selected image forming device has all the required features and if they are available, a “ready” status is indicated, otherwise a “not ready” status is indicate .Alternatively, the status confirmation control methods and systems allow operators to track an output job by displaying detailed information about an image form device's features and each feature's availability.