Options specified in the PROGRAMDUMP statement apply only to the program dump taken at that time and temporarily override the values specified in the OPTION word of the program. The bits of the OPTION word are set with the OPTION task attribute for the program. Refer to the Task Attributes Programming Reference Manual for information about the OPTION task attribute.

A program dump taken with the PROGRAMDUMP statement has an advantage over a program dump taken with the OPTION task attribute. A program dump can be taken with the OPTION task attribute only upon a fault or discontinue condition. A program dump taken with the PROGRAMDUMP statement can be taken at any time, and the program can continue after the dump is taken. For example, the PROGRAMDUMP statement might be useful as part of an ON statement, within an INTERRUPT statement, or within a piece of newly developed code.

The PROGRAMDUMP statement displays identifier name and compiler class information along with the stack variables when binding information (bindinfo) is present in the code file. ALGOL generates binding information by default unless the program is compiled with the compiler control option NOBINDINFO set to TRUE.