Abstract: A process for automatic ploughing during the winning of coal and the like in a longwall working with a hydraulic advancing lining with individual support units controlled by an electro-hydraulic control means. A plough guide is shifted automatically in stages by the plough cutting depth after passage of the plough by means of rams allocated to the support units and the support units are automatically shifted up as a function of the plough movement. The support units are positioned in support groups of which a plurality in each case are offset relative to one another in the shifting direction by the plough cutting depth and/or a multiple thereof. During the ploughing run only those support units of which the residual stroke of the shifting rams still available for shifting the plough guide is smaller than the plough cutting depth are automatically re-located in each case at a distance behind the passing plough.