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Database design tools for SQL Server
List of tools that allow for the design of a database.
Database design is a set of activities aimed at improving the development, implementation, and maintenance of an enterprise data management system. Its main goal is to reflect the outline of the database system into real models: physical and logical. Database designers determine what data is to be stored inside the database, and how objects are to be related to each other.
Model Xtractor
Model Xtractor is a software utility designed to inspect modeling for traditional or enhanced ER models, with support for most relational database platforms.
| Desktop/Cloud: | Desktop |
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ERBuilder Data Modeler
ERBuilder Data Modeler allows developers to graphically design databases by using entity relationship diagrams, and automatically generates the most popular SQL databases.
| Desktop/Cloud: | Desktop |
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Adminer
Adminer is a tool for managing contents of MySQL databases, formerly known as phpMinAdmin. It is a full-featured database management tool written in PHP.
| Desktop/Cloud: | Desktop |
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ERDPlus
ERDPlus is a web-based database modeling tool for creating entity relationship diagrams, relational schemas, star schemas, and SQL DDL statements. It automatically converts ER diagrams into relational schemas and works with most contemporary RDBMS tools.
| Desktop/Cloud: | Cloud |
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ER/Studio
ER/Studio Data Architect helps to easily reverse- and forward-engineer, compare and merge, and visually document data assets across multiple platforms and data sources. It enables data professionals to better manage data models and metadata in complex and dynamic enterprise environments.
| Desktop/Cloud: | Desktop |
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TablePlus
TablePlus is a native tool with an intuitive interface that you can use to create, query, edit, and save your databases in a very fast and secure way.
| Desktop/Cloud: | Desktop |
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Navicat Data Modeler
Navicat Data Modeler is a powerful and cost-effective database design tool that helps to build high-quality conceptual, logical, and physical data models. It allows to visually design database structures, perform reverse/forward engineering processes, import models from ODBC data sources, generate complex SQL/DDL, print models to files, and much more.
| Desktop/Cloud: | Desktop |
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HeidiSQL
HeidiSQL is a useful and reliable tool designed for web developers using the popular MySQL server, Microsoft SQL databases and PostgreSQL. It enables you to browse and edit data, create and edit tables, views, procedures, triggers, and scheduled events.
| Desktop/Cloud: | Desktop |
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Toad Data Modeler
Toad Data Modeler enables developers, DBAs, and designers to create, maintain, and document quality database designs and structures across various database platforms.
| Desktop/Cloud: | Desktop |
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DbVisualizer
DbVisualizer is the universal database tool for developers, DBAs, and analysts. It is aimed to simplify database development and management. It provides tree-based navigation through database objects and let multiple objects to be displayed side-by-side.
| Desktop/Cloud: | Desktop |
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RazorSQL
RazorSQL is an SQL query tool, database browser, SQL editor, and database administration tool. It provides visual tools to create, alter, describe, execute, and drop database objects such as tables, views, indexes, stored procedures, functions, triggers, and more.
| Desktop/Cloud: | Desktop |
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DBDesigner 4
DBDesigner 4 is a visual database design system that integrates database design, modeling, creation, maintenance, and documentation into a single, seamless environment.
| Desktop/Cloud: | Desktop |
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dbDiffo
dbDiffo is a free online database schema designer and provides unlimited tables and projects creation services.
| Desktop/Cloud: | Cloud |
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DTM Data Modeler
DTM Data Modeler is an easy-to-use tool allowing you to work both with logical and physical data models in the form of an entity-relationship diagram. The program can create database schema objects directly in the database and can create SQL scripts corresponding to the model taking into account the specified settings.
| Desktop/Cloud: | Desktop |
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DB Designer Fork
DB Designer Fork is a fork of the fabFORCE DBDesigner 4 and a premium database design tool. It integrates entity relationship design, front-end, and SQL exporting.
| Desktop/Cloud: | Desktop |
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The database design process can be very complicated. The more complex the system, the more sophisticated the tool is needed. Their functionality can vary greatly, however, core features include:
• creating and editing database objects,
• database architecture modeling,
• visualization of a database schema,
• tracking relationships between entities,
• grouping logically related objects into clusters,
• diagrams overview.
Database designer tools enable building graphical models and generating DDL scripts on their basis. The script describes data and relations between entities in the designed database. Furthermore, the tools enable reverse engineering (visualization of the model from the SQL script).
Key factors of creating a reliable and well-organized database are:
• a properly designed data structure,
• establishing what data should be stored in particular objects,
• how objects should be related to each other.
All of them can be improved by using the relevant Database design tool. Additionally, some of them allow the visual representation of data using ERD, makes it easier to visualize even more complex schemas.
Without proper software, development is based on raw code. This increases the risk of errors at the initial stage. The tools allow users to edit the visual layout using simple drag-and-drop functions. With a user-friendly interface, browsing the structure is possible even for non-IT people.
We have created a list of tools that support the process of creating database structure and its content. Our list includes free database design tools as well as advanced, more professional data management tools.