The Wizard of Doze wrote:
Is Visio really a convenient database modeling tool?
heh. From the page's "Model Validation" section:
"Before generating you need to validate the model. Visio will find all sorts of frustrating errors, some of them legit, some of them not. Perform the error check from Database -> Model -> Error Check. Errors will be displayed in the Output pane which will become visible after the check. You can double click on the error and sometimes Visio will take you to the problem."
Translation: It's bleeding useless. One of the two main reasons for using an app to do such diagrams, rather than use pencil and paper, is that it saves you the time and effort of checking references and finding cross-diagram inconsistencies. I use several tools for modelling dBs and processes, none of which are Visio. Mainly, I use the tiny, tiny old version of Select SSADM (which fits on a floppy disc, runs like sh1t off a shovel, and performs cross-diagram checks), or the slightly larger Select Enterprise, depending on which diagram types I need. If you want pretty colours, bells, whistles, etc. (rather than just having an effective and efficiently produced set of diagrams that you can use, and not just stick up on the wall to look pretty), there are several Eclipse plug-ins, and a google search on <"uml diagrams" draw generate> will throw up plenty of apps that fit the bill.
