1. A method for operating an automation system having a memory in which a control program is stored as an automation solution and executed by a processing unit incorporated in the automation system, said control program comprising a plurality of software modules invoked during execution of the control program by a runtime group module incorporated in the control program, wherein to replace at least one software module comprising an old software module with a new software module at runtime of the control program, the method comprising: comparing an old data area associated with the old software module with a new data area associated with the new software module; generating program code instructions for one of converting data for the old data area and converting data from the old data area into one of data for the old data area and data from the new data area; loading the new software module and the new data area; and replacing a program code instruction for invoking the old software module in the runtime group module with program code instructions for invoking the generated program code instructions for data conversion and for invoking the new software module to replace at least one software module comprising the old software module with the new software module at runtime of the control program.