SPECIFYING DATA BASE SYSTEMS.

This paper discusses the new issues arising when considering data manipulation. To make the discussion concrete a hierarchical interface is considered, although the issues are general. The following are discussed - relational versus abstract storage models, currency, data base state, privacy locks, ordering, access functions for the user and Data Base Administrator. The use of formal definitions to deduce general properties of data base management systems is briefly discussed; and, desirable properties for formal specifications of data base management systems are pointed out.