Toad Data Modeler

Creating and maintaining an SQL database requires a good amount of knowledge and skills, as well as the patience to identify and fix problems if they occur. Toad Data Modeler brings an easier approach to designing databases, developing and maintaining them. It allows you to illustrate a database in an Entity Relationship Diagram (ERD) and generate SQL scripts, based on your design. The software provides support for a large number of database systems and it comes with numerous features, which can help you increase your productivity, reduce the number of design oversights and much more.

Besides the commercial version, Toad Data Modeler is available in trial and freeware versions as well, which come with time and functionality limitations. Installing the program should not take more than a minute, even on outdated computers. It can be used on Windows 2000 and all later editions and it doesn't have any special requirements.

The software looks and feels like other diagram drawing applications. Although its functionality is more complex, you shouldn't find it difficult to master its controls, if you have some experience with databases. You can insert database entities in a large editing area and connect them with different lines, according to their relationships. Toad Data Modeler is compatible with Access databases, various MS SQL Server editions, Oracle, PostgreSQL and many other similar systems. The software allows you to choose one when creating a new project.

Entities are illustrated as rectangular boxes, which can be resized and moved anywhere in the editing area. The software allows you to make a vast range of specifications to each entity, on a tabbed properties window. You can assign schema and data space items, define attributes, keys and indexes, add triggers and permissions and much more. Once you define an entity's properties, you can preview its SQL code, on the same window.

All entities and their assigned properties are automatically organized in a large tree structure, on the left side of the main interface, so you can find a particular item faster, without opening any properties windows. If you are satisfied with your design, you can generate a DDL script, on a separate window, on which you can include or exclude individual properties and make other fine adjustments. The software can also verify your database and generate detailed logs and reports.

In addition, Toad Data Modeler gives you the possibility of reverse engineering existing database structures. Furthermore, the software is capable of synchronizing your database model with the actual database. This means that you can make any changes and updates to your database, in its graphical representation.