I then imported that schema into TDM and continued building out the database… until one time I went to save my model with a message that I exceeded the table limit of 25 and would need to purchase a license. To not lose what I build with SqlDBM, I removed all the foreign keys so the script could run and generate my tables. Anything you wanted to set up regarding your tables, keys, foreign keys, indexes, everything. I thought, great I will be done in that time. Quest offers TDM free for 30 days for evaluation. I had used Toad as a SQL coding tool back in the day with Volvo Commercial Finance because they were using Oracle database. I then stumbled upon Toad Data Modeler (TDM).

SqlDBM was in beta at the time, it may have had settings or configurations available to adjust this problem… but I set it aside and tried a few other tools. Well, the generated script would not completely execute due to foreign keys, certain tables need to be generated first. I am not aware of any table (or entity) limitations, but after 21 tables I wanted to test the creation script and make sure everything would work before I got farther along.

I reviewed a few and the one I chose to try was SQL Database Modeler. So, when I went looking for a data modeling tool to assist in visually designing and laying out related tables, I didn’t want to purchase an expensive tool, maybe some free tool or online service would do. So, with the database concerns and other architecture and security concerns, I pushed to do a re-design of the database and re-write of the web application.īesides this database, our other databases are small and/or not complicated.

For those DBA’s that found this article, it would be a nightmare. At work our primary web application is supported or driven by a database that is not relational, has lots of redundant data, some tables don’t have Keys, there are not Foreign Keys or indexes.

Toad data modeler versions