The name of a process is stored in the NAME task attribute of the process. The value of this attribute is, by default, the same as the title of the object code file that the process is executing. The process name appears in system log entries generated for the process. The process name also appears in the output from system mix display commands such as A (Active Mix Entries), W (Waiting Mix Entries), and C (Completed Mix Entries).

In addition to aiding the operator, the process name can affect the ability of the process to use some files. If a file has a guard file associated with it, the guard file can include a PROGRAM clause that specifies access rights for processes with a given name.

In some cases, the NAME value for a process can be different from its object code file title. This can occur if a WFL process or an ALGOL process initiates an internal procedure. The initiating process can make an arbitrary assignment to the NAME attribute of the new process before initiating it.

The initiating process can even assign the internal process the NAME of an entirely different program. This method enables the process to circumvent the PROGRAM clause in a guard file. To prevent such abuses, a CODEFILE clause is also available for guard files. This clause ignores the process name and instead specifies access rights for processes having a particular object code file title. For details, refer to the Security Features Operations and Programming Guide.