"Better tool" depends on what you want to do. I've used Visio for several years, because it was already licensed and available and does most of what I want. However, it has a nasty habit of locking up and becoming unresponsive if I want it to update the diagram based on changed I've made to the database. So, I design my databases visually, have Visio generate the basic DDL script for me, and then fine tune the script by hand. Once I have the database the way I want it, I push it to the database server and then generate a new Visio model with the reverse-engineering function so that I now have a Visio model that reflects the actual database. It's a bit awkward, but it's "free" (so long as you don't calculate the time cost spent, which my management doesn't).
Microsoft took most of their advanced database features out of the Visio 2002 product line and moved them to a new version, "Visio for Enterprise Architects", which comes with Visual Studio .NET for Enterprise Architects. Visio Pro and Visio Enterprise still have basic modelling capabilities, though. If all you want is to do a visual design and get basic printouts and reports, Visio works wonderfully and is much less expensive than the other tools. If you want something a bit more powerful, then I recommend you evaluate Embarcadero's ER/Studio. A list of database modelling tools may be found at: http://www.databaseanswers.com/modelling_tools.htm |------------------------+------------------------------------------------| |Eric A. Laney |You are in a maze of little twisting passages, | |Systems Architect |all different. | |Verizon Security | | |Voice: 813.293.3093 | | |Pager: 888.551.3718 | Today's Fortune| |------------------------+------------------------------------------------| "Kay Smoljak" <[EMAIL PROTECTED] To: SQL <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> m.au> cc: Subject: RE: SQL 7 Database Diagrams 01/31/2002 09:12 AM Please respond to sql Sorry, but if you are talking about Enterprise Manager, then the diagramming tools are by far the worst abomination Microsoft have ever unleashed upon this world. Just wait until you want to print. No matter how hard I try, I always end up with a single table diagram split over two pages. 2K is no better. If anyone knows of a better tool, please let me know. Kay. :> -----Original Message----- :> From: Bosky, Dave [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] :> Sent: Thursday, 31 January 2002 9:55 PM :> To: SQL :> Subject: SQL 7 Database Diagrams :> :> :> I've created a diagram showing all columns of a 40 table :> database and want to display the table vertically in 2 rows :> But it always displays them in a single horizontal row that :> appears to be a mile long. I can't seem to find the :> settings to change the default appearance. Do I have to :> manually stack the tables like I want? :> :> :> Thanks :> :> Dave Bosky, Net+ :> ~HTC Multimedia Web Designer :> ~Phone: 843.369.8613 :> ~Email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> [EMAIL PROTECTED] :> :> :> :> :> _____________________________________________________________ :> _________ :> Structure your ColdFusion code with Fusebox. Get the :> official book at http://www.fusionauthority.com/bkinfo.cfm :> Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ :> Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/index.cfm?sidebar=lists :> ______________________________________________________________________ Your ad could be here. Monies from ads go to support these lists and provide more resources for the community. http://www.fusionauthority.com/ads.cfm Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/index.cfm?sidebar=lists
