A programmable machine is provided with a programmed computer and a number of actuators, the operation of the latter being controlled by the computer in conformity with this computer program. The computer also includes an operating program which co-operates with a display device and a data input device for the input of instructions to the computer. The operating program responds to a sequence of the entered instructions displayed on the display device having a separate display field for each actuator or a group of actuators and enabling an operator to enter instructions with the data input device into each field to define the movement of the respective actuator and the relationship between actuators. The display device illustrates the operating sequence of the machine as a diagram. The operating program translates this information into a machine code program controlling the operation of the actuators.