Methods and apparatus are provided for visualizing a control program of a machine tool. The machine tool is provided with operating units. The operating units may comprise machining units, which are provided with tools, and at least one workpiece receiver in accordance with a machine tool configuation. The machine tool is also provided with a computerized control for controlling movement of the operating units in accordance with a control configuration. Sets of control data are read from the control program with a data processing unit. Virtual operating units corresponding to the operating units of the machine tool, linkings of the virtual operating units, and virtual actions of the virtual operating units are automatically determined taking into account the machine tool configuration and the control configuration. The virtual operating units and their virtual actions are then represented for a user in the form of a machine display.