Tool for modeling ER diagram and import in SQL server

Question

Is there any tool for ER modeling and then converting models to a Microsoft SQL Server database?

The tool should has this features:

• ER Diagrams shoud be in UML Notation (see this, the last is UML notation).
• Export models to a Microsoft SQL Server 2005/2008 database (by creating a mdf file or connecting to a MSSQL Server and creating suitable database in it).

I tried Microsoft Visio but seems not support UML Notation nor Exporting to MS SQL Server.
I also tried Visual Paradigm but i'm not sure i could export models to MS SQL Server.

Answer 1

Take a look at the following Microsoft Reference

When All You Want is an ER Diagram

Answer 2

If you accept commercial software, there are some choices:

1. Upgrade to Microsoft Visio Professional - it supports UML and database modelling

2. Enterprise Architect

3. Power Designer- my preferred tool for working with ER diagrams.

4. ErWin

There are many variants, e.g. many choices listed here.

Answer 3

Personally I prefer ERD diagrams for databaser data models. SQL Power's data architectis great for that, and it supports any RDBMS (through JDBC). It does not support UML though.

http://mysql.com/products/workbench/ does support some UML notation, but generates MySql Specific SQL. You can write a plugin for it to generate other SQL dialects

Answer 4

Visual UML can:

• UML
• Database reverse engineering
• Database forward engineering -- generate DDL scripts.

If you want to directly connect and generate DB and sync models (forward/reverse) try:

• Erwin (no UML)
• Toad (no UML)

Answer 5

You can use my online database code-generator to generate SQL Server DDL Scripts (and Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL,...) from UML models. Instead of forcing you to use a specific UML tool to draw the models, several UML tools are allowed (including Microsoft Visio but also ArgoUML, Eclipse UML,...).

See http://modeling-languages.com/content/uml2db-full-code-generation-sql-scripts-databases

for more information

Answer 6

I remember answering a similar question but cannot find it right now. I advised using DIA with SQL to DIA found here

Answer 7

I DID export my ER Model to SQL Server database with DB Visual Architect (a product of from Visual Paradigm family).

DB Visual Architect can export ER model to MSSQLServer/MySQL/...

It also let me to convert a ER Model to a class diagram that is identical to a UML notation.

However, it's not free.

anyway, Thanks all!