The invention relates to a method for identifying workpieces, which preferably consist at least partly of wood, wood materials or the like, in a machining process, having the steps of: detecting at least one workpiece property prior to a machining step, uniquely assigning a workpiece category to the workpiece using the at least one detected workpiece property, and machining the workpiece in the machining step which is determined by the assigned workpiece category of the workpiece.

A machining processing apparatus or the like is provided, which is suitable for reducing a burden on a user in adjusting machining conditions using machining results. The machining processing apparatus 1 machines a workpiece according to machining conditions. The machining conditions include multiple items and setting values for each item. The machining processing apparatus 1 includes an individual input processing unit 13, a support input processing unit 15, and an input/output unit 3. The individual input processing unit 13 allows the user to input setting values for each machining conditions item. The support input processing unit 15 calculates a change amount for one or multiple machining conditions items according to a modification of the machining shape of the workpiece input by the user, and instructs the input/output unit 3 to display the one or multiple items to be modified as change details together with the change amount for each item.