IS115 Database Management

Divine Word University

Tutorial 5: Table Relationships in Access

1. How are tables related in a relational database?

In relational database each table related is related to one or more table in database. They
are also related through primary key in a common field

2. Differentiate between a primary key and a foreign key?

Primary Key is field that uniquely identify each record in each related table whilst foreign
key is a primary key in a table that is insert in other table so it became the foreign key in
other table

3. List and briefly explain the three types of primary key.

 AutoNumber field key is an in built access tool that can be set to automatically
generate sequential number as each record is added to the table.
 Single field primary key is when you assigned only one field in a table as a primary
key
 Multiple primary key is when you assigned two or more field as a primary key

4. List and briefly explain the advantages of a primary key.

 It indexed information so as to speed up the process of accessing the information in
a database
 It ensures entity integrity so as to avoid manipulation of information in a database
and it creates validity of information
 Ensures uniqueness of the primary key by avoiding duplicates for the primary key
table
 It sorts data in order of the primary key, that is by default

5. List and briefly explain the three types of table relationships. Support your answer with
an example of each relationship type.
 One to one relationship is not common in table relationship and one table can have
only one matching record in in other table. E.g. Department table and HOD table.
One department can have only one HOD.
 One to many relationship is established when one table have many matching record
in the other table. E.g. Student table and Course table. One student can take many
course
  Many to many relationship is established when each table have many records
between them. That is, table 1 can match many records in table 2 and table 2 can
match many records in table 1. It can be possible by establishing a junction table.
E.g. The orders table and the products table. A product can have different orders
and someone can order different product.

6. What is referential integrity?

It is a system of rules that MS access uses to ensures the validity of the records in a table
and avoid manipulation of records in the database.

7. The use of Cascade Update Related Fields and Cascade Delete Related Records can
override some restrictions. Briefly explain the use of these two options.
 Cascade Update Related Fields is set for the purpose of changing primary key so to
automatically updates the matching value in all related records.
 Cascade Delete Related Records is when the check box is set, it deletes any related
records in the related table when records in the primary table is deleted.