9. A data processing system for managing document information comprising: a memory storing a meta-document for tracking and storing all information pertaining to actions performed by an application program on a document comprising document information on a computer-readable storage medium, the meta-document, wherein the meta-document comprises a file structure including: an object conveying document information, processing information pertaining to processing of the meta-document, and metadata for indexing and retrieving the processing information, wherein all of which are stored on the meta-document and retrievable from the meta-document; wherein the processing information comprises all information pertaining to each time the meta-document is processed by the application program being executed by the data processing system and any results of the processing during the entire life of the meta-document, the processing information being stored on the meta-document each time the meta-document is processed and being retrievable from the meta-document; and wherein the metadata comprises all associated metadata pertaining to each time the meta-document is processed by the application program being executed by the data processing system during the entire life of the meta-document, the metadata being stored on the meta-document each time the meta-document is processed and being retrievable from the meta-document; a processor for executing an application program for processing the meta-document; and a plurality of sources, each source located at a different location, wherein each time the meta-document is received by a source, processing information and its associated metadata is parsed and extracted from the meta-document at the source; and processing information pertaining to transmitting the meta-document to the source and parsing at the source and associated metadata stored on the meta-document, wherein the meta-document further comprises a first instruction, embedded on the object, responsive to processing of the meta-document, for generating and storing processing information and associated metadata on the meta-document, wherein the parsing step is performed by the first instruction, and wherein the meta-document farther comprises a second instruction, embedded on the object, for parsing and extracting selected processing information stored on the meta-document, and farther comprising the step of: parsing the meta-document for extracting the selected processing information and associated metadata; and distributing the extracted selected processing information to the source.
12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the processing information comprises information pertaining to distribution of the meta-document.