1. A method for operating a remote device in relation to a programming environment of a programmable metrology system comprising a workpiece sensing portion; a movable stage for holding a workpiece; a control portion; a display; an accessory interface portion comprising an accessory communication portion; and a user interface comprising a programming environment that is operable during a learn mode of the programmable metrology system, the programming environment comprising an editable part program representation of part program instructions in an editing window, the part program representation comprising instruction representations including a currently active current instruction representation, the method comprising: providing a communication connection between the remote device and the programming environment; operating the accessory communication portion to output a current instruction identifier to the remote device, the current instruction identifier corresponding to the current instruction representation; operating the remote device to receive the current instruction identifier; and operating the remote device according to a program or routine that is responsive to the received current instruction identifier to display a current instruction reference information user interface portion configured such that it is specifically related to a generic instruction type corresponding to the current instruction representation.