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tools to document a database?

  • February 3, 2005 at 6:05 am

    #162474

    Hi, i have joined a company who have an asp website, SQL server and actuate reporting aplication that has been built over the last 4 years. There are 350 tables, 250 SP's, 150 views. We made some changes via spec's but missed quite a few changes to the SP's, which inturn gave wrong info on the webpages/reports.

    Hence we want to document the database tables, views, SP's etc to let us write better spec's/impact analysis, support and develop the app better. So far i have found and messed around with http://www.ag-software.com/ags_scribe_index.aspx  this tool. It looks at all the above and links the tables/views/SP's thru a database and displays them thru webpages - pretty useful i thought for $400

    Has anyone run an automatic documentation tool against their DB's? How did you find the results, useful? Any other tools to look at?

    many thanks Paul

  • February 3, 2005 at 6:29 am

    #540350

    Erwin and Visio can reverse-engineer tables/views.  SQL itself can provide the code for all objects and you can look at sysdepends/syscomments for additional information (may not always be 100% accurate though)



    Good Hunting!

    AJ Ahrens


    webmaster@kritter.net

  • February 3, 2005 at 7:52 am

    #540378

    visio?? just installing visio professional 2003 as we have licenses - do you know if this or which version does it?? thanks

  • February 3, 2005 at 10:08 am

    #540445

    We're thinking about trying ApexSQL Doc.  It's $199 for a single seat with volume discounts and free support and upgrades.  Sounds like it works a lot like the AGS tool you're looking at.

    Greg

    Greg

  • February 3, 2005 at 1:19 pm

    #540499

    Spence,

    I believe that version does have Reverse Engineering in it.  I would read the HELP file on how to do it.  I don't remember it being difficult.  The bad part is trying to link the tables that Visio cant figure out...



    Good Hunting!

    AJ Ahrens


    webmaster@kritter.net

  • February 4, 2005 at 1:26 am

    #540617

    The problems you talk about I would say have to do with accurate database change management. Developing via source control and deploying via source control gives you control over the source delivered. Simple stuff really. Check out DB Ghost (http://www.dbghost.com) an automatable database change management solution that works with your source control.

     

  • February 4, 2005 at 5:23 am

    #540651

    SchemaToDoc (http://www.schematodoc.com) exports table information, field information, check constraints, foreign key constraints, and triggers to a Word doc.

    The standard version costs $125; a version that lets you annotate your tables and fields costs $165. Discounts are available for bulk purchases.

  • February 4, 2005 at 8:06 am

    #540688

    StarPrint has some great docimentation tools. they are reasonabily priced (hey, I got my boss to by one for me!) and there are mutiple modules, so you only need to buy what you need.

    http://www.starprint2000.com/

    Shalom!,

    Michael Lee

  • February 7, 2005 at 5:13 am

    #540896

    thanks for all those links! Gives me something to do this week

    Will report back on how i get on.....

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