A free tool like Erwin

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Mr. X. - 17 Mar 2008 05:22 GMT

Hello.

I am looking for a free tool like Erwin
(Erwin is a tool that show the whole schema database or part of it as an ERD
diagram.
It has algorithms to show the ERD in minimal place, with minimal crosses
between lines).

Thanks :)

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Arne Vajhøj - 18 Mar 2008 02:52 GMT

> I am looking for a free tool like Erwin
> (Erwin is a tool that show the whole schema database or part of it as an ERD
> diagram.
> It has algorithms to show the ERD in minimal place, with minimal crosses
> between lines).

If there were a free tool as good as ERWin - how many licenses do
you think ERWin would sell ?

There are a few free tools. I think you have gotten links in previous
posts.

Arne

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Sabine Dinis Blochberger - 19 Mar 2008 10:34 GMT

> Hello.
>
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> Thanks :)

There are some ERD programs.

I have used DBDesigner4 [1] and Toad Data Modeller 3 [2].

The DBDesigner is too MySQL centric (it puts foreign keys into the
diagram) for me, the Toad is more true to the ERD standard, I suppose.

[1] <http://www.fabforce.net/dbdesigner4/>
[2]
<http://www.toadsoft.com/toaddm/toad_data_modeler.htmhttp://www.toadsoft.com/toad
dm/toad_data_modeler.htm>

Signature

Sabine Dinis Blochberger

Op3racional
www.op3racional.eu

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Lew - 19 Mar 2008 13:24 GMT

> The DBDesigner is too MySQL centric (it puts foreign keys into the
> diagram) for me, the Toad is more true to the ERD standard, I suppose.

How is that MySQL-centric? Especially since in its marketplace, MySQL is the
only product to offer an engine, MyISAM, that doesn't even support foreign
keys. (Its other engines do support FKs; MyISAM is for tables that need
performance at the expense of architecture and safety.)

Signature

Lew

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Thomas Kellerer - 19 Mar 2008 13:36 GMT

Lew, 19.03.2008 13:24:

>> The DBDesigner is too MySQL centric (it puts foreign keys into the
>> diagram) for me, the Toad is more true to the ERD standard, I suppose.
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> support foreign keys. (Its other engines do support FKs; MyISAM is for
> tables that need performance at the expense of architecture and safety.)

I don't think putting FKs into the diagram was meant to be "MySQL centric" but the whole tool is (with regards to default datatypes, a property "Storage engine" for the tables etc).

But the fork that was now created on sourceforge seems to try to get rid of the MySQL centric stuff. I sure hope it also increases stability and doesn't die before releasing something decent ;)

Thomas

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blueparty - 19 Mar 2008 15:34 GMT

Squirrel SQL is not like Erwin, it is not a designer tool, but it is
very good for maintenance and it can generate relationship diagram.
One can move boxes in diagram around with mouse, and change the
layout.

DG

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Rev. Karl E. Taylor - 19 Mar 2008 15:55 GMT

| Squirrel SQL is not like Erwin, it is not a designer tool, but it is
| very good for maintenance and it can generate relationship diagram.
| One can move boxes in diagram around with mouse, and change the
| layout.
|
| DG

I use MySql WorkBench. It's an alpha version, but it works pretty darn
well.

- --
Dr. Karl E. Taylor
UNIX Systems Engineer / DBA

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Sabine Dinis Blochberger - 20 Mar 2008 10:47 GMT

> Lew, 19.03.2008 13:24:
> >> The DBDesigner is too MySQL centric (it puts foreign keys into the
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> centric" but the whole tool is (with regards to default datatypes, a
> property "Storage engine" for the tables etc).

Yeah, that's what I meant, the foreign key thing is yet another
pet-peeve if you will.

> But the fork that was now created on sourceforge seems to try to get rid
> of the MySQL centric stuff. I sure hope it also increases stability and
> doesn't die before releasing something decent ;)
>
> Thomas

Signature

Sabine Dinis Blochberger

Op3racional
www.op3racional.eu

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Thomas Kellerer - 19 Mar 2008 11:09 GMT

Mr. X., 17.03.2008 05:22:

> Hello.
>
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> Thanks :)

Here is a nice overview: http://www.databaseanswers.com/modelling_tools.htm

I recently discovered Power*Architect, which loosk quite nice:
http://www.sqlpower.ca/page/architect

Then there are some more
http://mogwai.sourceforge.net/ (very clumsy UI in my opinion, does not allow modelling without a connection)
http://www.codebydesign.com/ (that seems to be dead though)
http://staruml.sourceforge.net/en/about.php (couldn't get the ERD module to work properly)

DbDesigner mentioned by Sabine seems to be resurrected on Sourceforge:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/dbdesigner-fork/

None of the above has a good layout alghorithm.
Power*Architect does a reasonable job, but the diagram still needs manual "optimization"

Thomas

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A free tool like Erwin

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