--- a/src/oct-iostrm.cc
+++ b/src/oct-iostrm.cc
@@ -54,20 +54,24 @@
   return false;
 }
 
-// The name of the file.
-
-string
-octave_base_iostream::name (void)
-{
-  return nm;
-}
-
 void
 octave_base_iostream::invalid_operation (void) const
 {
   ::error ("%s: invalid operation", stream_type ());
 }
 
+octave_stream
+octave_istream::create (istream *arg, const string& nm)
+{
+  return octave_stream (new octave_istream (arg, nm));
+}
+
+octave_stream
+octave_ostream::create (ostream *arg, const string& nm)
+{
+  return octave_stream (new octave_ostream (arg, nm));
+}
+
 /*
 ;;; Local Variables: ***
 ;;; mode: C++ ***