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 Options which applies to all models.

Innovator supports the following diagram notations:

• Chen

  Notation according to Peter Pin-Shan Chen with (min,max) cardinalities

• DSA

  Notation in accordance to data structure analysis

• James Martin

  Notation in accordance with James Martin, Bachmann and Odell (also know as "crow’s foot" notation)

• SERM

  Notation in accordance with structured entity relationship modeling from Prof. Dr. Elmar J. Sinz

• IDEF1X

  Notation in accordance with IDEF1X standard (U.S. authority standards FIPS 184)

• UML

  Notation in accordance with Unified Modeling Language

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.

Supported ER Diagrams Processes

• Creating entities with relationships
• Modeling generalizations
• Creating Attributes and Keys

Theoretical Basics

• Reference page for entity relationship diagram
• Data pattern (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

• Design Ribbon Commands
• Page Layout Ribbon Commands
• Context Menu
• Mini Toolbar
• Using the Mouse
• Properties Window
• Toolbar