N
Neil
Anyone have a recommendation for a good inexpensive or free utility for
developing table schemas.
developing table schemas.
A
Allen Browne
A utility to develop table schemas?
If ou are looking for suggestions on how to design schemas for a variety of
needs, this might be useful:
http://www.databaseanswers.com/data_models/index.htm
In general, though, you only go go the trouble of creating a custom database
if there is no off-the-shelf solution. Therefore the bespoke Access
databases you create all have unique needs, and cannot be designed by a
utility.
If ou are looking for suggestions on how to design schemas for a variety of
needs, this might be useful:
http://www.databaseanswers.com/data_models/index.htm
In general, though, you only go go the trouble of creating a custom database
if there is no off-the-shelf solution. Therefore the bespoke Access
databases you create all have unique needs, and cannot be designed by a
utility.
S
susiedba
what do you want to do.. print schemas?
export schemas to word?
I would reccomend keeping an eye on www.gliffy.com it is a free online
visio-killer
export schemas to word?
I would reccomend keeping an eye on www.gliffy.com it is a free online
visio-killer
D
David F Cox
When I have seen questions concerning complex logic on newsgroups I have
wished for a sketchpad where I could draw a flowchart. Other times I have
longed to be able to share a relationship diagram. This looks like a
possible answer. I would like to hear more expert views on this.
wished for a sketchpad where I could draw a flowchart. Other times I have
longed to be able to share a relationship diagram. This looks like a
possible answer. I would like to hear more expert views on this.
N
Neil
I meant just a tool for playing with table designs and providing a graphical
interface/printing utility, not one that would do the designing work for me.
I want to be able to design the tables manually, set up relationships, and
print the schemas, without creating the tables, and then create the tables
once I'm done with all the design work. Seems that such a utility exists.
interface/printing utility, not one that would do the designing work for me.
I want to be able to design the tables manually, set up relationships, and
print the schemas, without creating the tables, and then create the tables
once I'm done with all the design work. Seems that such a utility exists.
T
Tim Marshall
Neil said:
Might be, but I find small yellow stickies (post it notes) work great
when conceptualizing a design. It's certainly possible I'm in the dark
ages, though.
D
David F Cox
I believe Microsoft's Visio might do what you want.
K
Karl
You can do this in Excel.
Neil said:
N
Neil
Yes, I can list tables and fields in Excel; but I'd like to visually
display table relationships and joins. Surely there must be a tool out there
that does this.
display table relationships and joins. Surely there must be a tool out there
that does this.
N
Neil
With me, if it's not on my PC, it gets lost. The only way I find mail is by
knowing which part of the floor it was left on.... My computer files, on the
other hand, are very organized.
knowing which part of the floor it was left on.... My computer files, on the
other hand, are very organized.
N
Neil
Could be; but I was hoping for some free or inexpensive tool for doing
this -- doesn't have to be fancy.
You know, it's interesting: I was expecting lots of replies saying, "I use
this," or "I use that." But that hasn't been the case. So what do most
people do, just design with pencil and paper or just Word or Excel? Or just
go straight to table design?
this -- doesn't have to be fancy.
You know, it's interesting: I was expecting lots of replies saying, "I use
this," or "I use that." But that hasn't been the case. So what do most
people do, just design with pencil and paper or just Word or Excel? Or just
go straight to table design?
M
Michael Gramelspacher
I was also expecting to see lots of replies.
This is the only thing I have encountered that is free.
(Assuming it can still be downloaded.)
http://www.fabforce.net/dbdesigner4/
it is really for use with Mysql.
I have also seen this recommended, but the cheapest version is
$229. http://www.datanamic.com/
There are many others and most are expensive.
A
Armen Stein
Here's what we do:
At first: on a whiteboard or using pencil & paper, we sketch out the
high level tables using circles (tables) and lines (relationships). We
indicate the one and many side of each relationship. We may note a
few critical fields under each table, or some sample data in quotes.
When we feel that the initial table level of design will work, we
enter it directly into Access or SQL Server, and use the relationships
window (in Access) or a Diagram (in SQL Server) to lay it all out
graphically.
We don't use a third party tool, but Visio can do it (as another
poster suggested). Another (more expensive) tool is ERWin.
Armen Stein
Microsoft Access MVP
www.JStreetTech.com
At first: on a whiteboard or using pencil & paper, we sketch out the
high level tables using circles (tables) and lines (relationships). We
indicate the one and many side of each relationship. We may note a
few critical fields under each table, or some sample data in quotes.
When we feel that the initial table level of design will work, we
enter it directly into Access or SQL Server, and use the relationships
window (in Access) or a Diagram (in SQL Server) to lay it all out
graphically.
We don't use a third party tool, but Visio can do it (as another
poster suggested). Another (more expensive) tool is ERWin.
Armen Stein
Microsoft Access MVP
www.JStreetTech.com
D
David F Cox
What actually I use is a large sheet of paper and a very soft pencil 4B - 6B
and a good eraser. Usually the diagram never gets finished. When I have
sorted out the difficult bits I am off into the table design window. I am
not advocating that anybody follow my example.
and a good eraser. Usually the diagram never gets finished. When I have
sorted out the difficult bits I am off into the table design window. I am
not advocating that anybody follow my example.
N
Neil
Thanks for that!
Michael Gramelspacher said:
N
Neil
Thanks for the feedback. I can see the usefulness of that approach. I just
have an aversion to sketching things out manually, and prefer to do
everything on the PC. In the past, I've always just gone in and created
tables in Access, using it as a design tool of sorts. But this project I'm
starting is somewhat complex, and I wanted to lay it out first before going
to table design.
have an aversion to sketching things out manually, and prefer to do
everything on the PC. In the past, I've always just gone in and created
tables in Access, using it as a design tool of sorts. But this project I'm
starting is somewhat complex, and I wanted to lay it out first before going
to table design.
P
Paul Ibison
Here's a nice list of such tools:
http://www.databaseanswers.com/modelling_tools.htm
Can't vouch for any of the free ones, but can recommend Erwin, Visio and
Enterprise Architect, all of which I've used.
Cheers,
Paul Ibison SQL Server MVP, www.replicationanswers.com .
http://www.databaseanswers.com/modelling_tools.htm
Can't vouch for any of the free ones, but can recommend Erwin, Visio and
Enterprise Architect, all of which I've used.
Cheers,
Paul Ibison SQL Server MVP, www.replicationanswers.com .
R
Roger Carlson
Actually, you can use the graphic tools in Excel to draw boxes and lines to
create a simple ER diagrams.
In my classes, I give the students a PowerPoint template that has all the
objects created that they can just copy and paste into a new PowerPoint
document to draw their ER diagrams. It actually works pretty well. You can
find it here: http://www.rogersaccesslibrary.com/TutorialsDesign.html
create a simple ER diagrams.
In my classes, I give the students a PowerPoint template that has all the
objects created that they can just copy and paste into a new PowerPoint
document to draw their ER diagrams. It actually works pretty well. You can
find it here: http://www.rogersaccesslibrary.com/TutorialsDesign.html
T
Tim Marshall
Neil said:With me, if it's not on my PC, it gets lost. The only way I find mail is by
knowing which part of the floor it was left on.... My computer files, on the
other hand, are very organized.
8) Re the stickies, the good thing about this stage of development
means I take a day (or three) to clear the myriads of paper, empty pop
bottles, sandwich crusts to clear off my desk and organize myself. 8)
N
Neil
Thanks!