Abstract: Control program statements are graphically displayed as flowchart logic. The runtime engine associated with the process control computer monitors and maintains state data indicating whether a program statement was executed on every pass, on at least one but not all passes, or never. This state information is used by the program tracker to render the graphically displayed program blocks in a different color or other visual indicia, allowing the user to perceive what program branches the runtime program actually took during operation. The user is thus provided with useful logic flow information even though the executing program may operate cyclically at a speed faster than the user can directly perceive.

Abstract: Control program statements are graphically displayed as flowchart logic. The runtime engine associated with the process control computer monitors and maintains state data indicating whether a program statement was executed on every pass, on at least one but not all passes, or never. This state information is used by the program tracker to render the graphically displayed program blocks in a different color or other visual indicia, allowing the user to perceive what program branches the runtime program actually took during operation. The user is thus provided with useful logic flow information even though the executing program may operate cyclically at a speed faster than the user can directly perceive.