Simplified replacement of field devices process means

A method of operating a processing means (2) to a control unit (4) and at least one with the control unit (4) for exchanging data via a data exchange connection (6) bandaged field device (8, 10, 12) is proposed, in which (a replaceable field device 10) is replaced by another, to be assigned field device (12), comprising the steps of: Generating a replacement signal (AS) by means of an exchange signal transmitter (14), and transmitting the replacement signal (AS) to the control unit (4). A corresponding process means and a control unit, a field device and a replacement signal transmitter and a computer program are also the subject of the invention.