Edit Data Security

Choose Security > Edit Data Security to define compile-time security for an application database. The Data Dictionary alphabetically lists the names of the tables defined for the working database. When you select a table, the Data Dictionary displays the current permissions lists for the table. the following figure shows the default permissions for the customer table.

Figure 47. Edit Data Security dialog box

The upper section of the Edit Data Security dialog box displays the six levels of security permissions for the table. By default, the Data Dictionary initializes all levels with an asterisk (*), which means that all users are allowed to modify table permissions. The lower section describes the fields for the permissions lists.

The six levels of security permissions for tables are:

Can-Read —Specifies the users who have permission to read a table. The default is an asterisk (all users).

Can-Write — Specifies the users who can write to a table or update records. The default is an asterisk (all users).

Can-Create — Specifies the users who can create new records. In order to create a new record, a user must have Can-Write privileges. The default is an asterisk (all users).

Can-Delete — Specifies the users who can delete records from a table. The default is an asterisk (all users).

Can-Dump — Specifies if you can dump database or table definitions and data with triggers disabled. The default is an asterisk (all users).

Can-Load — Specifies if you can load database or table definitions and data with triggers disabled. The default is an asterisk (all users).

The following table describes the values you use to define the permissions for a table.

Table 31. Access restrictions for tables
Expression	Indicates
*	All users are allowed access.
user	Only this user has access.
!user, *	All users have access except this user. Note: Do not place the asterisk (*) before !user. If you do, all users are allowed access.
acct*	User IDs that begin with acct have access.

The following table describes the options at the bottom of the Edit Data Security dialog box.

Table 32. Edit Data Security dialog box options
Option	Action
NextField	Displays the next field defined for the specified table
PrevField	Displays the previous field defined for the specified table
ForwardTable	Displays the permissions for the next table defined for the working database
BackwardTable	Displays the permissions for the previous table defined for the working database
Modify	Modifies the permissions for a table or field
SwitchTable	Displays the list of tables again so you can select a new table
JumpField	Displays a list of all the fields defined for the current table
CallAdmin	Accesses the Security Administrators dialog box
UserEditor	Accesses the Edit User List dialog box
Report	Generates a user report for the working database
Exit	Exits, saves changes, and returns to the Data Dictionary window

Once you designate security administrators, only they can use this option.