With Astah Professional, you can create ER Diagrams (Entity-Relationship Diagrams) in IDEF1X or IE notations.
Also, you can auto-generate ER diagrams by reversing from your database. All models are stored in one place and can be converted to other models like UML Class diagram models and vice versa.
You can generate ER Diagrams after importing database tables with DB Reverse Plug-in.
Each model has two fields for its name – Logical and Physical and you can change the name to display on the diagram.
There are three ways to switch the name.
1. Right-click on the diagram and select [Diagram Model Type] from its pop-up menu.
2. Click [Diagram Model Type] in the Structure Tree.
3. Switch from ER Diagrams’ Property View (Bottom-left pane).
You can set logical or physical name as default in the [Tools] – [System Properties] – [ER Diagram].
You can switch the diagram notation between [IDEF1X] and [IE]. There are two ways to switch the notation.
1. Right-click on the ER diagram and click [Diagram Notation] from its pop-up menu.
2. Switch from ER Diagram’s Property View (bottom-left pane.
You can create ER Domains from pop-up menu of [Domain] in the tree view.
You can also add more than one ER Domain at once.
1. Click [Add ER Domains] in the tree view or go to [Tools] – [ER Diagram] – [Add ER Domains].
2. Specify the domain data in the list.
You can drag a Domain from the Tree to an ER Entity directly on the diagram.
Select Identifying Relationship, Non-Identifying Relationship or Many-to many Relationships from the Tool palette and click two Entities to connect.
IDEF1X | IE | Relationship type |
---|---|---|
![]() | ![]() | Identifying Relationship |
![]() | ![]() | Non-Identifying Relationship |
![]() | ![]() | Many-to-many Relationship |
You can export the Entity’s definition as a comment by configuring so in the [Option] menu.
You can set the default Data type for an Entity attribute by marking it at [Default Type].
You can export a list of ER Domains, Entities and each Entity’s detailed information to Excel file.
1. Go to [Tools] – [ER Diagram] – [Export Entity Definition Report].
2. A list of domains, entities and each entity information would be exported.
3. Enter the new Data Type in this dialogue and click [OK].
Logical Name of Attribute | $each.entity.each.attribute.logical_name |
---|---|
Physical Name of Attribute | $each.entity.each.attribute.physical_name |
Domain Name of Attribute | $each.entity.each.attribute.domain |
Primary Key Flag of Attribute | $each.entity.each.attribute.pk |
Foreign Key Flag of Attribute | $each.entity.each.attribute.fk |
NotNull Flag of Attribute | $each.entity.each.attribute.notnull |
Reference of Attribute | $each.entity.each.attribute.ref |
Datatype of Attribute | $each.entity.each.attribute.type |
Length/Precision of Attribute | $each.entity.each.attribute.length_precision |
Initial Value of Attribute | $each.entity.each.attribute.initial_value |
TaggedValue of Attribute | $each.entity.each.attribute.initial_value |