1. A method for processing documents managed by a network-based document management system comprising the steps of: defining at least one rule for application to document data received by a document management system, the rule comprising: at least one condition based upon at least one property, and at least one action; examining document data received by a document management system; determining if the examined document data matches the at least one condition of the at least one rule; and applying the at least one action of the at least one rule to the document data.