A good database modeling tool? [closed]

Answer 1

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 2

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 3

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 4

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 5

I heartily recommend Sparx Enterprise Architect.

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

Answer 6

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.