A good database modeling tool?

Question

Could you guys recommend me a good db modeling tool? Mainly for SQL Server...

thanks!

Answer 1

If you mean for drawing Entity Relationship Diagrams, then I suggest Visio. It will even build your database from the Diagram.

Answer 2

If it is for SQL Server I like the DB Diagram from SQL Server Management Studio.

Answer 3

StarUML has a module that allows for the creation of Entity Relationship Diagrams. However, I've never used it for this purpose, so I don't know how good it is, but I do like StarUML for UML diagrams.

Answer 4

Funny as it is I've found:

WWW SQL Designer

to be useful in a pinch. I'm also a fan of his Instant SQL Formatter though by "instant" he means "not T-SQL" so you have to some slight hand editing of Profiler recorded statements to use his system fully.

Answer 5

If your employer is paying, ER Studio is fantastic. I don't know how other people can function without it. It easily makes me 50% more productive.

Answer 6

I heartily recommend Sparx Enterprise Architect.

Alternatively Visio for Enterprise Architects works moderately well and you could get it together with Visual Studio.

Answer 7

try http://www.fabforce.net/dbdesigner4/ for MySQL

Answer 8

ERwin Data Modeler is the best tool for Enterprise database modelling in my opinion. I've used it a number of times and it is great. See: http://www.ca.com/us/products/product.aspx?id=260

It is a little bit pricey, but it is worth it. You can also trial it for free.

Answer 9

I tend to use SQL Server Management Studio also for quickly doing stuff, but when I am doing the actual implementation or more advanced stuff I use EMS Sql Manager. It is quite a nice tool with far more advanced and more numerous features than Sql Management studio. You can think of it as MS SQL Management Studio on steroids. Takes a bit of getting used to the UI though, but still straight forward enough. And if you get their package with all their peoducts you get a ton of great utilities as well.

If its just diagramming thoguh i will use Visio.

Answer 10

I've been using for some time with great success what used to be called 'Case Studio'. It's now called 'Toad Data Modeller'..

It's pay, but quite good, worth at least a trial.

Answer 11

Personally I always liked Dia, it's ubiquitous, portable, easy to use and supports a whole bunch of other diagrams other than just ER/UML so I can use it to make diagrams for non-techies.

Answer 12

I used pencil and paper quite successfully to get the initial entities and relationships down. Especially good if designing with other people, you don't get distracted by the GUI interface, mousing around, getting the background gradients right, etc. Then you can translate it into Visio or Dia or a UML tool that generates both the SQL Schema and your object model...

Usually after this time constraints mean you end up in TOAD or your DB tool of choice getting the tables, indexes, foreign keys and stuff implemented in straight SQL or with their table designer tool. Changes will inevitably come up downstream so don't spend too long getting things exactly, just get the structure right.

Answer 13

You can draw ERDs using GraphViz records. That will not trak/organize your metadata, geneate your DDL or anything else for that matter - but it will give you an entity relationship diagram that you can easily edit/update.

It will handle all the layout/arrangement details of the diagram for you. It does a pretty good job of this. It is sort of a declarative diagram-drawing language. Very simple to learn. Requires nothing but a text editor to use. Many applications use its abilities behind the scenes to generate their diagrams also.

Answer 14

I second Embarcadero ERStudio. Not cheap but powerful, multiplatform and really easy to use.

Answer 15

Well, if you're using SQL Server, as I've mentioned in other posts Visio probably will work really well for you. You probably already have it or your IT shop does so the cost is negligible and it can import an existing database or if you build from scratch can export it to a designated SQL Server.

I've used it several times and have been happy with the results.

Answer 16

ModelRight, from http://www.modelright.com is very good for physical modeling. Excellent support for Oracle, MySQL, SQL Server, etc.

Answer 17

ModelRight is the best tool out there - especially for the money.