PURPOSE: To scrupulously manage the operation of a data base opened to multiple users, to effectively use a disk space which a management information holding device requires without having plural pieces of information on respective resources and to efficiently operate the resources which the users generate.

CONSTITUTION: Information stored in the user management information holding device 1 are managed for respective resources as follows. The respective resources (user, data base, data item of data base, inquiry history information and function key information) are imparted with resource numbers at the time of definition. The resources are operated in accordance with the open degree of the respective resources based on the resource numbers.