ER/Studio - Embarcadero Technologies Product Documentation

Using ER/Studio
This section includes the following topics:
• Creating and Working With Data Models
• Best Practices
• Common Tasks
• Developing the Logical Model
• Developing the Physical Model
• Working with the Data Dictionary
• Documenting Data Extraction, Transformation, and Load
• Saving and Using Quick Launch Settings
• Generating RTF and HTML Model Reports
• Exporting the Data Model
• Printing the Data Model
• Exporting an Image of the Data Model
Creating and Working With Data Models
Using the data modeling features of ER/Studio you can create automatic and customized data model diagrams.
ER/Studio provides functionality such as automatic layouts, custom colors and fonts for your objects, and relationship
line control.
ER/Studio offers five preset auto layouts: circular, hierarchical, orthogonal, symmetric, and tree. You can use a preset
layout to automatically generate your data model into a specific diagram type. These automatic layouts dictate how
ER/Studio displays relationships and objects. Although these layouts create a specific diagram with specific rules that
control relationships and object placement, you can still change certain aspects of the display, overriding the
automatic layout.
You can set color and font settings for almost any object in your diagram. You can create changes that affect all
objects in your diagram. If you make a change in color or font to the entire diagram, you can then select individual
objects to customize differently.
ER/Studio gives you control over relationship lines. You can control the color, bending, straightening, verb phrases,
and docking points of relationship lines.
If you are working with large data models, ER/Studio offers features that help you zoom and navigate your models
easily. The Overview Window and Zoom Window display thumbnail views of your entire data model. Utilities
accessible from the Diagram toolbar, let you zoom, navigate relationships, and fit your entire data model into the Data
Model Window.
There a several ways to create a data model. This section describes these methods. Subsequent discussions
describe how you can customize your data model.
• Creating a New, Blank Data Model
• Reverse Engineering an Existing Database
• Importing a Model
EMBARCADERO TECHNOLOGIES > ER/STUDIO® 8.0.3 USER GUIDE 39