A method of displaying batch execution data of an industrial plant configured for performing a plurality of batch executions, each batch execution comprising a hierarchy of levels of elements, each level comprising at least one level element, the method comprising: selecting a first level element in a first level window, the first level window displaying data for each first level element; and displaying in a second level window second level elements comprised by the selected first level element, the second level window displaying data for each of the displayed second level elements, the second level window being displayed within the first level window directly beneath the selected first level element such that all other first level elements originally displayed under the selected first level element are moved down in the first level window to become displayed under the second level window while remaining in the first level window; the method further comprising flagging at least one completed batch execution among a plurality of completed batch executions by selecting a flag from a group of flags, each of the flags denoting a distinct batch execution characteristic, associating a reference trend with an uncompleted batch execution, the reference trend being a trend data set collected from a completed batch execution; and selectably displaying the reference trend together with displaying the current trend data of the uncompleted batch execution; wherein associating the reference trend with the uncompleted batch execution comprises selecting a particular flagged completed batch execution, and selecting a second trend data set as a second reference trend; and displaying the second reference trend together with displaying the current trend data. selecting a first level element in a first level window, the first level window displaying data for each first level element; and displaying in a second level window second level elements comprised by the selected first level element, the second level window displaying data for each of the displayed second level elements, the second level window being displayed within the first level window directly beneath the selected first level element such that all other first level elements originally displayed under the selected first level element are moved down in the first level window to become displayed under the second level window while remaining in the first level window; the method further comprising flagging at least one completed batch execution among a plurality of completed batch executions by selecting a flag from a group of flags, each of the flags denoting a distinct batch execution characteristic, associating a reference trend with an uncompleted batch execution, the reference trend being a trend data set collected from a completed batch execution; and selectably displaying the reference trend together with displaying the current trend data of the uncompleted batch execution; wherein associating the reference trend with the uncompleted batch execution comprises selecting a particular flagged completed batch execution, and selecting a second trend data set as a second reference trend; and displaying the second reference trend together with displaying the current trend data.