Shared Visual Database Diagrams

Shared Visual Database Diagrams

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MSDN article

Database Diagramming with Visual Studio 6.0 and SQL Server 7.0

SQL Server 7 Enterprise Manager

Visual Studio 6 Enterprise Database Tools

Important New Document. The database diagram is a critical document. It helps developers visualize structures of tables and relationships. One of the first things developers want to do when starting to work on a new project is print the entire database schema. The print out from a complex database can cover an entire wall. Sometimes it's easier to understand a database structure if you look at it by subject area. The database diagram tools enable developers and DBA's to create "windows" into the entire database. For instance, there might be a diagram that consists of only the entities related to Customer.

It's About Sharing. Because these documents are stored in the database, all of the developers on the team can view, edit, or create them (depending on their database permissions). Also, the SQL Server 7 DBA will be able to publish, share and edit schemas with the developers from within the SQL 7 Enterprise Manager.

Database Designer. More and more, developers have stepped into the role of "virtual DBA." While the production DBA focuses on supporting existing databases, developers need databases to begin development against. Using a local SQL Server database and the Visual Database Tools, developers can visually author proposed database structures. From within the tools both DBAs and developers can create new tables, indexes, relationships and all the other expected database objects all without writing a single line of Transact-SQL. You can modify existing databases, create new ones and even experiment with changes to your database without actually modifying the underlying database. DBA's won't need to panic because these tools use SQL Server 7's underlying permissions - if developers don't have access to the database, they won't have access with these tools either.

Database Diagrams Are Everywhere. It doesn't matter which language in the Visual Studio lineup you choose, you'll have these tools. When you jump over to SQL Server 7 Enterprise Manager, you'll notice that the Database Diagram is so important that it's now the "cover story" for a database (as seen above).

Last Updated: 4/05/99