Types of use
iBase can be used by both Designers and Users. Designers are responsible for designing databases and setting up the properties of entities and links and for configuring security, these tasks are referred to as administrative tasks. Users can use databases, add or import records, and manipulate or analyze the data.
For example if you wanted to add a new type of entity to your database, such as an airport, then the Designer would do that and set up all the required properties of an airport. But if you wanted to record the details of an actual airport, and then run queries about airports, these would be user tasks.
Typically a database would have maybe one or two people who carry out the administrative tasks but may have many people who can carry out user tasks. iBase has separate modules for Designers and Users so you log on to whichever is appropriate for you.
The roles of designers and users can be summarized as follows:
Designers
- Design databases - this process usually involves consulting with the intended users to decide exactly what information is to be stored and in what form.
- Create new databases - includes creating all the required entity and link types.
- Update databases - adding new entity and link types as requirements arise.
- Configure databases - setting up code lists, labeling schemes and all the other things that affect how the database is used.
- Administer the database - for example: adding users, setting security, deleting old records, and backing-up the data.
Users
- Add, modify and delete records.
- Create sets and queries to find data of particular interest.
- Analyze the data using a variety of tools.
- Create reports or charts based upon the data.