A technique for executing customized code on off-loaded or retrieved documents in a document processing environment. The present invention provides a code component in the form of an agent that can be automatically executed relative to a document before a document is off-loaded, after it has been off-loaded or after it has been retrieved. Preferably, the code component is in the form of a plug-in. Embodiments of the present invention enable advantageous pre-processing and post-processing of documents in the document processing environment. Invocation of at least one agent and execution of customized code at a well-defined time, i.e., synchronous with the underlying document processing step or event.