Database Manager Editor

Purpose

The DB Manager editor is used to align an Innovator database model with a real database in a relational database management system (DBMS).

Prerequisites

The editor is only available if you have a license for Innovator for Information Architects.

Call

To import information from a real database, open the wizard for the database or DDL import using the commands

Import/Export>Import>Database or
Import/Export>Import>DDL

To initiate the extended import and display the information from the real database in the DB Manager editor, click on the Advanced import button in the wizard.

The DB Manager editor is completed for comparison and import purposes using the information in the wizard.

Use the DB Manager editor to carry out the following actions:

Update or expand Innovator tables in line with the tables that exist in a relational database management system (DBMS).
Show differences between Innovator tables and DBMS tables.
Create a differences DLL.
Export a DDL file with the Innovator database schema.

Structure

The DB Manager can be opened as many times as required and shows the respective source in the tab. The source's complete path is shown in the tool tip.

Ribbon: The Database Connection context tab belongs to the editor. It is automatically edited if the editor is clicked on. It contains the following groups:

Source group
- Refresh: Reload data and refresh the left-hand list.
- Compare with Model: Highlight the differences between the left and right database objects by coloring in the left-hand list. If you select such an element, the changes are also highlighted in the Details area, as are any differing values. Differences are only determined for database objects selected in the left-hand list.
Import group
- Change Database Schema: Import the database objects selected in the left-hand list in the right-hand DB schema.
Export DDL group
- Alter Script: Export a differences DDL file. The database objects selected in the left- and right-hand list are taken into account.
- Create Scripts: Export the selected database objects shown in the right-hand list to a DDL file.
Options group
- Match case: When activated, the comparison is case sensitive.
- Consider database model of the target: When activated, all elements in the database model of the target package are displayed.

A list of DBMS tables is shown on the left.

The Innovator tables of a database schema are shown on the right. You can set the DB schema by searching for the DB schema you want e.g. in the model structure and using drag-and-drop and drag it into the list on the right. If tables were already shown there from another DB schema, these are no longer shown.

Detailed information about a selected DBMS table or Innovator table is shown at the bottom. This detailed information is structured differently depending on what is selected, i.e. it represents either JDBC or Innovator data.

Structured Database Models

When importing database tables and views, referenced elements can be organized into various schema or database object groups in the model structure. Use the Consider database model of the target toggle command in the ribbon for this.

If it is active, then all elements which are in the subtree of the target schema's database model are displayed in the right-hand list in the database manager.

If it is not active, then only the target schema's elements are shown.

Elements already contained in the right-hand list are not created as new and can be e.g. referenced using foreign keys or From clauses.

If a new element is created upon import, then it is created in the target schema.