Page 204 - Using MIS

172 Chapter 5 Database Processing

Figure 5-8
Adding a New Column
to a Table (in Access)
Source: Microsoft Access 2013

You do not need to understand or remember SQL language syntax. Instead, just realize
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 man-
agement 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 ac-
count 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.

Q4 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.