I am wondering what tools others are using to help design databases. For example, Visio, Case Studio, XCase, and others listed at http://www.datamodel.org/DesignToolsSection.html.



Thanks, Charles

Charles R Kelsoe

I was using Visio until Microsoft decided that you need to purchase a MSDN Premium Subscription and one of the VS 2005 Team Editions. I liked it but I don't feel it's worth $2,000+

-Larry

I am playing around with DBDesigner 4 right now. So far it seems ok.

Charles R Kelsoe

I have pretty much stayed entirely with MS Visio Architect for Visual Studio as well since it comes with my MSDN subscription, and that most of the companies that I have been with have it as some sort of defacto standard...

I have also strayed off and used ERwin from CA but as a smaller shop I just can't afford (or justify) $4000 USD for a data modeling tool; especially since I tend to build my database from my objects and not the other way around.

Lance

P.S.  I just noticed that CA is offering a great deal right now on ERwin!  You get a $200 iPod Nano with every purchase!  LOL!  What a steal! 

After trying some of the alternatives I finally broke down and purchased a copy of Visual Studio 2005 Team Architect Edition.

I've tried most of the tools out there.  For the basics of creating a data model efficiently, I have always ended up with xCase as head and shoulders above the rest.  It is idiosyncratic, and I can show you a weakness or two, but my job is to get the work done, and nothing else comes close in terms of letting me work as fast as I can think.  Your mileage may vary, but I've checked everything out that has come in the last 13 years, and I end up staying with xCase.

Hank Fay

Hi Charles,

Take a look at Enterprise Architect (www.sparxsystems.com) - a UML product that has a not too flash database component but its very reasonably priced and it has a lot of great UML tools.

Peter