Abstract: A method of recovering from an error condition during operation of a program that is modifying a data base without corrupting the data base, wherein the program includes calls to record the progress of the operation in a table in memory. On the occurrence of an error condition, the tables for all programs in operation are transferred to a disk. During error recovery, the tables are returned to memory where the information stored in the respective tables is used by each active program to restore operation of the particular program to a point where the operation can be completed without corrupting the data base. Each program is designed to interrogate its own recovery table following the occurrence of an error condition to restore operation at a point where the integrity of the data base is assured.