A system and method are provided for processing an imaging job using
adaptive universal symbols. The method comprises: establishing a user
interface (UI) representing imaging job options with adaptive universal
symbols at a job source, which can be an imaging driver or a direct
submit application; accepting adaptive universal symbol selections from
the UI; sending an imaging job to an imaging device, in an imaging
device-specific format, along with the adaptive universal symbol
selections; and, at the imaging device, processing the imaging job in
response to the selected adaptive universal symbols. With respect to
print, copy, or fax jobs for example, the adaptive universal symbols may
represent options such as staple, cut, fold, hole-punch, trim, N-up,
duplex, paper size, input tray, output bin, copies, collation, margin,
sheet/page orientation, or front/back covers.