Setting Notations for Creating New ER Diagrams

You can use various notations for entity relationship diagrams.

Notations for ER Diagrams in the Conceptual Model

Configurable Notations

The entity relationship model supports various notations. Innovator for Information Architects supports the following notations for configuration and use of display options.

Diagram Notations

Chen

Notation in accordance with 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
UML

Notation in accordance with Unified Modeling Language
IDEF1X

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

SERM Edge Notation

Standard
Classic (like in Innovator Data classiX)
James Martin

Default Diagram Notation

Diagram notation for new ER diagrams is set using the configured display options.

Each diagram is opened unchanged using the standard SERM notation if display options are not configured; this also includes edge depiction according to standard SERM notation.

If you wish to set one or more other notations, then you need to configure display options for these. You can set whether changes made to the notation within the diagram is permissible. You can also change settings so that notation can be switched in the display options in the ER diagram editor.

Switch ER Notation

If the ER notation was configured so that it can be modified, then it is possible for all users to select it within the diagram in the display options, if configuration permits this.

SERM Edge Display

SERM edge display should also be set in the configured display options.

The edge is displayed in accordance with standard SERM notation if no display options are configured.

Changes to the SERM edge notation can be made in the diagram.

Changing Notation in the ER Diagram

Prerequisites

The configuration enables diagram-local notation changes.

Context

You can modify diagram-local depiction of an existing ER diagram in the diagram's display options.

How to proceed

Click on the dialog box launcher in the Design>Display menu group.

The Display Options dialog opens.
Select one of the configured notations for the diagram from the Diagram Notation drop-down list.
Select a SERM notation from the SERM Edge Display drop-down list if you want to set the edge notation.
Click on Apply.

The ER diagram's notation is changed locally in diagram.

The selected edge notation is used locally in the diagram when SERM notation is used.