March 10, 2004 at 10:15 am
Hi folks - I want to dynamically create a diagram of our existing databases. The only thing I can find is in Enterprise Manager... Diagrams - and this appears to actually build a database for me (plus I have to do it manually).
I want to point this tool to one of my databases and have it draw a schema diagram for me 1) without having to draw it manually and 2) without it creating a new database for me.
I appreciate any assistance!
March 10, 2004 at 10:33 am
Diagrammer is a good tool for showing an existing DB, if you use the diagramer you go into diagrammer for the DB and add the tables.
Visio Pro is an excelent tool fordisgramming as well, and prefered if it is available.
Some people like Embarado, and some other 3rd party tools.
KlK
March 10, 2004 at 10:43 am
Thanks very much for the response... I do have Visio... but can't see any features in SQLServer or in Visio which would allow me to export information from one program to the other in order to do this for me. Again, I do not want to draw each table, I need something to do it for me.
March 10, 2004 at 10:58 am
I'm not a big fan of VISIO. But to get it to create a diagram, open a new Database- ER diagram. Go to the Database Menu and select Reverse Engineer and ollow the prompts. If you do not have the option to create Database type diagram you may not have the Enterprise edition of VISIO.
Francis
March 10, 2004 at 11:36 am
First it is Visio Pro, not the regular Visio that includes DB diagramming.
But if in EM you open an existing DB, click on diagram, then create a new diagram, you can add tables that eaxist and produce a workable diagram. Workable !!
KlK
March 11, 2004 at 7:11 am
Lauren
I guess it's worth mentioning that these diagramming tools rely on existing relationships between the tables in the database. I've reverse-engineered legacy databases and all I had when the dust settled was a bunch of pages with tables and their columns - no lines!
Fair warning...
Cheers,
Ken
March 11, 2004 at 4:01 pm
Ken,
I've had the exact same problem when using Visio to diagram a Foxpro 2.6 database. So frustrating!!!
So yeah, the process doesn't always work with older db's.
Cheers,
Angela
March 11, 2004 at 8:24 pm
Thanks MrSQL, either product will do a good job. I've found Visio good, but not perfect.
As for poorly defined DB, get used to it. You'll find more that way then well defined.
It wouldn't be so bad except I've seen "IT Professionals / Architects " that have managered to build the worst. I can half understand some Access DB built by the users.
KlK
March 12, 2004 at 9:56 am
Unfortunately, I only have Visio standard - which of course does not do what I need. The only option that comes close is going into EM & making a new diagram... although, I have to do it in development because I can't save it... it's not a database diagram for reporting purposes, it's an actual designer... not cool.
March 12, 2004 at 10:03 am
I guess I don't understand.
The diagrammer in EM can diagram an existing DB, there is no way to export the results for electronic documentation. But you can print it, although it is a pain to get it organized.
When you make the new diagram you can import existing table structures, although yes if you make changes they can be applied to the DB. Or they are lost.
Although I believe you can save the changes as a script, then not save the diagram.
KlK
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