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Chapter 5 Database Processing
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Figure 5-8
Adding a New Column
to a Table (in Access)
Source: © Access 2013, Microsoft
Corporation

You do not need to understand or remember SQL language syntax. Instead, just real-
ize that SQL is an international standard for processing a database. SQL can also be used to
create databases and database structures. You will learn more about SQL if you take a database
management class.

Administering the Database
A third DBMS function is to provide tools to assist in the administration of the database. Database
administration involves a wide variety of activities. For example, the DBMS can be used to set up
a security system involving user accounts, passwords, permissions, and limits for processing the
database. To provide database security, a user must sign on using a valid user account before she
can process the database.
Permissions can be limited in very specific ways. In the Student database example, it is possible
to limit a particular user to reading only Student Name from the Student table. A different user could
be given permission to read the entire Student table, but limited to update only the HW1, HW2, and
MidTerm columns. Other users can be given still other permissions.
In addition to security, DBMS administrative functions include backing up database data,
adding structures to improve the performance of database applications, removing data that are no
longer wanted or needed, and similar tasks.
For important databases, most organizations dedicate one or more employees to the role of
database administration. Figure 5-9 summarizes the major responsibilities for this function. You
will learn more about this topic if you take a database management course.

Q5-4 How Do Database Applications Make Databases

More Useful?

A set of database tables, by itself, is not very useful; the tables in Figure 5-6 contain the data the
professor wants, but the format is awkward at best. The data in database tables can be made more
useful, or more available for the conception of information, when it is placed into forms like that in
Figure 5-2 or other formats.
2
A database application is a collection of forms, reports, queries, and application programs
that serves as an intermediary between users and database data. Database applications reformat