Method of operating an annealing furnace for annealing a metal strip, comprising the following steps: selecting a target temperature distribution (T Soll), which is predetermined for a regulation, for the metal strip over its strip length as a target temperature distribution, which is associated with a selected actual material characteristic of the metal strip, for the metal strip; predetermining the target temperature distribution (T Soll) for the metal strip over its strip length; and regulating the actual temperature distribution (T Ist) for the metal strip over its strip length to the predetermined target temperature distribution in the annealing furnace; characterised in that the predetermination of the target temperature distribution further comprises the following sub-steps; predetermining strip data in the form of at least the steel quality and the thickness of the metal strip, which is to be annealed, at the inlet of the annealing furnace; on the basis of the strip data: selecting a distribution of the actual material characteristics of the metal strip over its strip length, prior to its entry into the annealing furnace, from a plurality of adapted actual material characteristics; and wherein in addition to the strip data also measurement data about the material characteristics of the metal strip for selection of the distribution of the actual material characteristics of the metal strip are utilised, wherein the measurement data are measured at the metal strip before its entry into the annealing furnace (measuring point M0), after its entry into the annealing furnace, after leaving the annealing furnace and prior to entry into a roll stand, particularly sizing stand, downstream of the annealing furnace, and/or after leaving a stretching/straightening device downstream of the roll stand, and wherein the filed distributions of the actual material characteristics of the metal strip prior to their selection for association with the target temperature distribution are adapted to adapted plots for the actual material characteristics, wherein the adaptation is carried out on the basis of the strip data and the process data from the furnace as well as with additional consideration of the measurement data by way of the material characteristics of the metal strip, which were measured between the outlet of the annealing furnace and the inlet into the roll stand (measuring point M2) and/or which were measured additionally at the outlet of the stretching device (measuring point M3); and wherein the selection of the target temperature distribution (T Soll) predetermined for the regulation is carried out on the basis of the adapted plot of the actual material characteristics. selecting a target temperature distribution (T Soll), which is predetermined for a regulation, for the metal strip over its strip length as a target temperature distribution, which is associated with a selected actual material characteristic of the metal strip, for the metal strip; predetermining the target temperature distribution (T Soll) for the metal strip over its strip length; and regulating the actual temperature distribution (T Ist) for the metal strip over its strip length to the predetermined target temperature distribution in the annealing furnace; characterised in that the predetermination of the target temperature distribution further comprises the following sub-steps; predetermining strip data in the form of at least the steel quality and the thickness of the metal strip, which is to be annealed, at the inlet of the annealing furnace; on the basis of the strip data: selecting a distribution of the actual material characteristics of the metal strip over its strip length, prior to its entry into the annealing furnace, from a plurality of adapted actual material characteristics; and wherein in addition to the strip data also measurement data about the material characteristics of the metal strip for selection of the distribution of the actual material characteristics of the metal strip are utilised, wherein the measurement data are measured at the metal strip before its entry into the annealing furnace (measuring point M0), after its entry into the annealing furnace, after leaving the annealing furnace and prior to entry into a roll stand, particularly sizing stand, downstream of the annealing furnace, and/or after leaving a stretching/straightening device downstream of the roll stand, and wherein the filed distributions of the actual material characteristics of the metal strip prior to their selection for association with the target temperature distribution are adapted to adapted plots for the actual material characteristics, wherein the adaptation is carried out on the basis of the strip data and the process data from the furnace as well as with additional consideration of the measurement data by way of the material characteristics of the metal strip, which were measured between the outlet of the annealing furnace and the inlet into the roll stand (measuring point M2) and/or which were measured additionally at the outlet of the stretching device (measuring point M3); and wherein the selection of the target temperature distribution (T Soll) predetermined for the regulation is carried out on the basis of the adapted plot of the actual material characteristics.