User inquiry facility for task status in a distributed system

A user inquiry facility and method are described for use in a computerized data processing system which provides for monitoring of conversations or information transmission between a user of the data processing system, during the execution of the user's program, and a communication partner (which could include a database or other facility) associated with the data processing system. Task progress tracing information is selected from the conversations and stored. The stored information is updated to keep it current with the progress of the task of the user's program. An instruction is provided by the facility or method which, when activated, by the user selects task progress tracing information from the stored information and after formatting it for readability is transmitted to the user-s display or terminal. The inquiry facility is independent of the successful operation of the user's program so that it can feedback information to the user about any failure in the program or in any communication paths used for the conversations.