Access 2007: What Is the Name of the Set of Rules Governing Relationships?

Microsoft Access uses a system of rules to ensure that relationships are valid. This set of rules is called referential integrity.

Cascade Update

With referential integrity in place, you can turn on the ability to cascade an update. If you make a change in a primary table, it with automatically update other tables affected.

Cascade Delete

You also can turn on the ability to cascade a delete. If you delete information from a primary table, then it will update other tables affected.

Keeping Data in Sync

Referential integrity relationships help to make sure that data in one table matches the data in other tables. For example if you have a list of schools and another list of mascots, a school cannot be added without a corresponding mascot.

References

• Microsoft Support: Defining Relationships Between Tables in a Microsoft Access Database