Abstract: The present invention provides productivity aids for ladder logic programs for Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs). The present invention discloses a software package embodying a method of creating custom screens for displaying the values and status of bits and words in a PLC as a ladder logic program executing therein is monitored. Any combination of bits and words can be displayed by the custom screens. This Custom Data Monitor function is designed to simplify troubleshooting by giving the user the tools to develop screens that act as windows into user-selected Data Table locations in the PLC.