A method to provide update information concerning device descriptions that are associated with field instruments (110, 112, 114, 120, 122), wherein a device description is installed in a host application of a workstation (104, 106) and enables the host application to access a corresponding field instrument (110, 112, 114, 120, 122), and wherein the device description provides at least one of: a structure or standardized format to specify at least one of: an accessible variable, a command, a function, a procedure, or menu associated to the corresponding field instrument (110, 112, 114, 120, 122, 302), the method being characterized by the following steps: sending (500, 502, 504), by the host application, a request for update information to the field instrument (110, 112, 114, 120, 122, 302) using the device description currently installed in the host application, wherein the request comprises the host revision number corresponding to the used device description; comparing, by the field instrument (110, 112, 114, 120, 122, 302), the host revision number to the latest instrument revision of the device description for which the corresponding field instrument (110, 112, 114, 120, 122, 302) has information; generating (508, 510), by the field instrument (110, 112, 114, 120, 122, 302), a character string of update information based on the comparison of the revision numbers of both device descriptions, wherein the character string of update information includes at least one of: how many revisions there have been between the host revision and the instrument revision, what additional features, what additional functionalities are available with a newer revision, what bugs in the host revision are remedied by the newer revision, where the newer revision may be obtained, where more information about the newer revision may be obtained, a hyperlink that is linked to a website where information about the newer revision may be obtained, or a hyperlink that is linked to a website where updates are provided; sending the character string of update information to the host application; and displaying the character string of update information, via the host application, to provide update information of a device description to an operator. sending (500, 502, 504), by the host application, a request for update information to the field instrument (110, 112, 114, 120, 122, 302) using the device description currently installed in the host application, wherein the request comprises the host revision number corresponding to the used device description; comparing, by the field instrument (110, 112, 114, 120, 122, 302), the host revision number to the latest instrument revision of the device description for which the corresponding field instrument (110, 112, 114, 120, 122, 302) has information; generating (508, 510), by the field instrument (110, 112, 114, 120, 122, 302), a character string of update information based on the comparison of the revision numbers of both device descriptions, wherein the character string of update information includes at least one of: how many revisions there have been between the host revision and the instrument revision, what additional features, what additional functionalities are available with a newer revision, what bugs in the host revision are remedied by the newer revision, where the newer revision may be obtained, where more information about the newer revision may be obtained, a hyperlink that is linked to a website where information about the newer revision may be obtained, or a hyperlink that is linked to a website where updates are provided; sending the character string of update information to the host application; and displaying the character string of update information, via the host application, to provide update information of a device description to an operator.