> Bruce, could you say some more about what made CaseStudio win out over > DDS? > > Dave Merrill
Ugh. I didn't keep any of my comparison notes (I thought about it, though ;-), so I'll have to go by memory. I'll add comments for my runner-up choice, Dezign, too. CaseStudio (1st choice): + better user interface + reverse engineering capability built-in (DDS charges extra) + huge number of databases supported, including many opensource databases (can also add your own custom databases) + built-in Data Flow Diagram editor (bi-directional; can link to ERD) <-- very cool + flexibility of options/configurations, including colors, names, metadata, etc. + more polished print output (including html web site and pdf output) + written with development/developers in mind (for example, can attach to-do notes to any object, can add generation clauses to objects + has a "gallery", which allows you to save reusable data models in a library + has a versioning system which can version data model objects + can compare differences between two models + has a data model explorer interface to drill down to specific attributes, entitites, etc + allows scripting of users and roles for databases which support it + support for triggers, stored procedures, etc. - can't add relationship verbs in both directions (I'm a data modeling purist, sorry ;-) - doesn't support the concept of logical and physical models - can't control relationship lines as much as I'd like (e.g., can't straighten lines automatically) - versioning is complex and not as well documented as expected - doesn't control access to data model by team members (user-by-user access) - doesn't support database domains Dezign (2nd choice): + physical view perhaps the closest to ER/Studio type (i.e., nice) + very nice control of relationship lines and graphics (can straighten lines - ahhh!, colors, fonts, etc) + script-writing support, to make custom reports, templates, etc + fully supports relationship verbs and naming + supports begin/end database script inclusion in generated output + supports sub-diagrams (awesome for breaking down complex/big models) + supports generalization entities + price good - reverse engineering limited, and extra cost - doesn't get updated with new features very often (last: Dec 2004) - acceptable printed output (very basic, not professional looking) + does have a cool slider tool to print to specific page/zoom size, though - supports versions, but cannot compare models (very basic) - encountered one bug in free trial which messed up a model (very bad) DDS (3rd choice): + can generate VBScript or Java from within tool + supports concept of domains for databases which have it + a "project manager" feature to control all aspects of a project (multiple data models, etc) + can see what datatypes and features are supported easily + supports data model control at user level - HATE the way they draw relationships, including the drawing of lines (geez) - no DFD functionality, no reusable data model parts, no explorer - funky UI; hard to figure out sometimes, different from norm, much hidden - DDS-Pro more on par with CaseStudio, but then costs much more - reverse engineering only in DDS-Pro version - fewer database choices ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Find out how CFTicket can increase your company's customer support efficiency by 100% http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=49 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:207387 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.4 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
