Editor for Entity Relationship Diagrams

Purpose

You can use the ER diagram to model a submodel of the conceptual schema. Entities are shown as nodes and relationships are shown as edges. The user selects the ER diagram notation in the application menu in Options which applies to all models.

Innovator supports the following diagram notations:

• James Martin (crow's foot)

• Chen (min,max)

• Data Structure Analysis (DSA)

• Unified Modeling Language (UML)

• Structured Entity Relationship Model (SERM)

The main difference between these notations is how they display relationships, whose cardinalities are illustrated with various different graphic icons or formal texts in different places. SERM notation arranges entities in a sort of hierarchy from left to right.

Views can also be displayed as nodes and their From clauses as edges.

Theoretical Basics

• Reference Page for Entity Relationship Diagrams

• Database Schema (DB)

• Conceptual Schema (ER)

• Special Concepts for Understanding Model Relationships

• Working in Diagrams

• Logical and Graphic Existences of Model Elements

Diagrams in Innovator

• General Use of Diagrams

• General Graphic Modifications

• Using General Diagram Elements

• Working with Relationships

Control Elements

• Commands in Design Ribbon Tab

• Commands in Print View Ribbon Tab

• Context Menu

• Mini Toolbar

• Using the Mouse

• Properties Window

• Status Bar