Data Modelers - Alternatives to Erwin
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I have been asked to find data modeling tools to serve as an alternative to Computer Associate's Erwin. I downloaded Toad version 3 to test it, but it doesn't allow me to import .er1 model diagrams.
Does anyone know of decent alternatives to Erwin which will allow me to import our current Erwin diagrams without having to rebuild them from scratch?
I want a tool that will do all the same sorts of things Erwin does. Reverse Engineering, Complete Compare, list datatypes in tables, as well as relationships, etc. Including being able to color-code tables (background and outline colors).
Thoughts? Thanks in advance!
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Visio will work, but it's a little flaky and that' s not it's intended purpose.
Embarkadero has ER/Studio, which I liked better than Erwin.
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Put me down for Embarcadero ERStudio too. Great tool.
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I just downloaded a trial version of this and it won't open any of my current Erwin diagrams. Bleargh. It seems nothing I can find will allow me to simply convert over my current diagrams.
Any other suggestions?
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Really? Hmm. That actually used to be a specialty of theirs because they were bringing so many people over from ERWin. I haven't upgraded an ERWin model myself since 2002. Sorry.
What about exporting to XML or something & importing that way?
"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood"
- Theodore RooseveltAuthor of:
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SQL Server Query Performance Tuning -
Actually, my problem may be resolved. I thought we weren't going to be able to get the latest version of Erwin, but now I'm hearing differently.
Here's hoping! @=)
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Y, ERStudio is the bomb. I used to convert ERWin diagrams with it all the time. I don't imagine that they would have lost that functionality. Almost everything in ERStudio is easier than ERWin too.
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What version are you guys using that ER/Studio converts Erwin? And what type of files have you saved in Erwin that makes the conversion so easy?
When I tried to convert an .er1 diagram, it didn't work for me at all.
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also take a look at sybase powerdesigner.
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We are currently running ERStudio version 7.1.2 Build 4769, and it supports converting ERWin ERX files from version 2.6 through 3.52. There is a newer version of ERStudio out, but we haven't done the upgrade as of yet.
😎
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Visio has always seemed OK for SQL Server, but since we also work with Oracle we have been moving towards ERWin. Do those with experience of both find that ERStudio is actually better than ERWin across database platforms, or is it simply that we all prefer the one we have got used to?
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IMHO, both are better than Visio. Visio just doesn't have the toolset to do all the things I want it to do.
I've only looked at ER/Studio for about 5 minutes trying to see if it would convert my ancient Erwin diagram. Since it didn't and since we may be able to upgrade our Erwin, I quit looking at it. Getting new software approved at our company is a serious pain, so I didn't want to waste my time with something that wouldn't work.
Unfortunately that means I can't tell you which tool is better.
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Talking about which tool is better can be a pretty slippery slope. I've been using ERStudio for years. I used to use ERWin and the company I'm currently at was using ERWin when I got here. I then showed them all that I could do with ERStudio out of the box and with the basic programming environment included with it. I took processes & documentation that they were spending weeks generating and turned it into a few seconds at the push of a button. Apart from the schmucks whose job it was to pile through the ERWin diagrams for hours at a time, everyone was very happy with it.
Even where ERWin may be a slightly better tool, the responsiveness (or lack thereof) of CA when there are issues with the tool just doesn't compare to the support I've always received from Embarcadero. They're a great company.
I've only used ERStudio with Oracle a little bit. Mainly to migrate databases out of Oracle and into SQL Server. But it sure seemed to offer the same level of support in Oracle that it has in SQL Server.
For what that's worth
"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood"
- Theodore RooseveltAuthor of:
SQL Server Execution Plans
SQL Server Query Performance Tuning -
Really?
Hmmm. Looks like ER/Studio merits a second look from me. I'm one of those poor souls whose job it is to wade through all that documentation and I just don't have the time for it.
And it's nice to hear that other people have been having trouble with CA's technical support too. Thanks, Grant.
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My thanks to Brandie and Grant - Brandie for pointing out that there are factors that are nothing to do with the product and everything to do with who will agree to adopt/pay for it, and Grant for his experience of both. It sounds as if ERStudio would be worth examining; but with ERWin already in the door I might have a hard job getting anyone to look further (I should add that we started from a point a few months ago where neither we nor our Third Party software people had a standard ER tool).
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