A message bridge integrates a data management system with a document production system so that variable data may be provided to the document production system without off-line processing. The message bridge includes a transport adapter and a Web server. Preferably, a transport adapter resides at the data management system and a transport adapter resides at the Web server. The transport adapter at the data management system collects and converts variable data into data messages for communication with the document production system so a document composition engine may incorporate variable data in document layouts and printed documents. Soft documents generated by the document composition engine may be communicated to the data management system through the message bridge for proofing and approval.