Hello,

I’m pleased to announce that another BETA version has been released.
The Beta 3.4.10.2 brings great new features such as for example naming conventions, perfectly new Sync & Convert Wizard, alter scripts for DB 2 db and LIVE Reverse Engineering for all supported databases! 

=============================
New Features and Enhancements
=============================
* Naming Conventions
* Sync & Convert Wizard for model conversion, model merge, model compare and alter script generation
* Alter scripts for DB2 UDB 8, DB2 v9, DB2 v9.5
* LIVE RE for the following databases: MS SQL Server 2000, 2005 and 2008, MySQL 5.0 and 5.1, Sybase ASE 12.5 and 15,  PostgreSQL 8.3, 8.2, 8.1, DB2 UDB 8, DB2 v9 and DB2 v9.5.
* Reports: Watermarks in RTF and PDF reports for physical and logical models.
* New option in the Options dialog: Print Gradient, Save Passwords with Aliases, Message Explorer Log Path, Sync and Convert Log Path
* GUI: Pop-up menu on tabs of Designer and Workspaces with options Move Tab Left, Move Tab Right, Close Other Tabs, Close
  * plus other enhancements and bug fixes.

=============
Documentation
=============
Complete list with detailed description can be found at:
http://modeling.inside.quest.com/entry.jspa?externalID=2933&categoryID=29

Naming Conventions PDF document:
http://modeling.inside.quest.com/entry.jspa?externalID=2932&categoryID=159

New Sync & Convert Wizard PDF document:
http://modeling.inside.quest.com/entry.jspa?externalID=2931&categoryID=159

New BETA version movies:
http://modeling.inside.quest.com/kbcategory.jspa?categoryID=273

=============
BETA Download
============= 
Download the new Beta from:
http://modeling.inside.quest.com/ann.jspa?annID=150

We look forward to your feedback!

Regards,

Vladka & TDM Team

Hello,

I’m pleased to announce that another BETA version has been released.
Toad Data Modeler 3.4.2.6 brings great new features, many enhancements and also bug fixes. Please see their brief list below.

=============================
New Features and Enhancements
=============================
* Alter script for PostgreSQL 8.1, 8.2, 8.3 database
* Import from DDL script of MS SQL Server 2005
* Support of macros (see the new item Macros in the main menu)
* Significant enhancements in Convertor that is now: faster, more stable, more clear (one direction conversion - Model 1 => Model2), with progress bars and a new button Refresh Necessitated Items.
* PDF and RTF Alter reports for physical and logical models
* Many GUI improvements:
   - Possibility to select colors for attributes (Settings | Options | Physical Model | Entity tab | Attribute Colors area)
   - Fit to Screen icon on the toolbar
   - Highlighting a relationship line on the Workspace when you select caption of the relationship.
   - Automatic wordwrap in object Note
   - Autolayout after option Fill Parent and Child Objects of entities
   - and more.
* Bug fixes in Convertor and Oracle, Sybase, MS SQL Server and MS Access databases.

=============
Release Notes
=============
Complete list with detailed description can be found at:
http://modeling.inside.quest.com/entry.jspa?externalID=2793&categoryID=29

=============
BETA Download
============= 
Download the new Beta from:
http://modeling.inside.quest.com/ann.jspa?annID=150

We look forward to your feedback!

Regards,

Vladka & TDM Team

Hello Toad Data Modeler users,

I am pleased to announce the new release of Toad Data Modeler 3.3.8.11.

Version 3.3.8.11 is a patch to version 3.3.7.22. It brings several bug fixes, particularly fixes for alter script generation. 
Their complete list can be found in the Release Notes document available at:
http://www.quest.com/Toad-Data-Modeler/release-information.aspx

==================
Installation Guide
==================
There is one installation package for Commercial and Trial version of Toad Data Modeler.
Please read the Installation Guide.pdf document carefully before you install Toad Data Modeler.

Limitations of trial version:
- 15 -day trial period,
- multiple features limited to a maximum of 25 entities*.

The Installation Guide is available on the Download page.

*Note: Information on limitations of Trial version is also available at:
http://modeling.inside.quest.com/ann.jspa?annID=241

===============
Download/Update
===============
Download Toad Data Modeler 3.3.8.11 from:
http://www.quest.com/common/registration.aspx?RequestDefID=10037
or via the support.quest site at:
https://support.quest.com

==========================
Purchase and Support Links
==========================
Visit Quest’s online store:
http://info.quest.com/buyToadDataModeler

Get Support:
For technical questions contact Technical Support at:
http://www.quest.com/support/

Quest Software Offices:
http://www.quest.com/about/about_us.asp

=======================
BETA Testing Invitation
=======================
Last week a new BETA 3.4.1.4 was released. The new BETA brings:
* Support for DB2 LUW 9.5
* Alter script for MySQL 5.0 and MySQL 5.1 database
* RTF  reports for logical model
and much more.

Please read the BETA release announcement for more details:
http://modeling.inside.quest.com/thread.jspa?threadID=9239&tstart=0

Let me invite you to download BETA and test new and enhanced features. Your feedback is greatly appreciated!

Thank you for your co-operation and support!

Enjoy the new version 3.3.8.11!

Regards,

Vladka & TDM Team

Hello,

I’m very happy to announce the release of Toad Data Modeler 3.4.1.5. BETA.
This Beta brings new features and many fixes and enhancements. Please see their brief list below.

=============================
New Features and Enhancements
=============================
* Support for DB2 LUW 9.5
* Alter script for MySQL 5.0 and MySQL 5.1 database
* RTF  reports for logical model
* Possibility to generate HTML, RTF, PDF reports for PER model and HTML, RTF reports for LER model only for the selected Workspace
* Possibility to generate alter report in RTF and PDF format
* Propagation of attributes via foreign keys - possibility to set it up for your models.
* Logical model - Model Properties option available in Model menu or context menu in Model Explorer or Application View
* XSL Transformation - Possibility to save XSD file directly from the XSL Transformation dialog
* fixes for alter script generation, GUI and particular databases

For more details, please read the BETA release announcement at:
http://modeling.inside.quest.com/thread.jspa?threadID=9239&tstart=0

=====================
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
=====================
Beta 3.4.1.5 requires that you are running a commercial or trial copy of Toad Data Modeler. You need to have a  valid license key for the commercial or trial copy of Toad Data Modeler to be able to run the BETA.

We look forward to your feedback!

Regards,

Vladka & TDM Team

Hi,

In part two of the XSLT Reports series, I will explain you how to define items that will be displayed in GUI. You will learn how to define default Description, file name, suffix and also how to define parameters and other settings.

See below a new XSL template created for one of our community members.

And this way your definitions will be displayed in Toad Data Modeler.

Let’s continue with the XSLT structure.
In the stylesheet element, you can see definition of standard XSLT namespace plus two additional namespace definitions. The first additional namespace is xmlns:tdm="http://www.quest.com/toad-data-modeler", used for TDM related items, the second additional namespace is xmlns:msxsl="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:xslt", used only when JavaScript function needs to be executed during XSL Transformation.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<xsl:stylesheet version="2.0"
xmlns:xsl="http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Transform"
xmlns:tdm="http://www.quest.com/toad-data-modeler"
xmlns:msxsl="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:xslt">

The Stylesheet element is followed by several TDM related elements.

<tdm:description>Output contains Relationship name, parent entity and child entity names and parent and child attribute names. You can change ListSeparator as well as AttributeSeparator parameters. ListSeparator separates CSV values, AttributeSeparator separates attribute names (relationship created using PK of multiple columns.) </tdm:description>
<tdm:caption>Relationships (CSV)</tdm:caption>
<tdm:default-filename>relationships</tdm:default-filename>
<tdm:default-suffix>csv</tdm:default-suffix>
<tdm:db-platforms>
<tdm:db-platform>all</tdm:db-platform>
</tdm:db-platforms>

• tdm:description - use this element to describe your XSLT. The content will appear in GUI, see the screenshot above.
• tdm:caption - allows you to name your XSLT. Whatever you write into this element, it will appear in combo-box.
• tdm:default-filename - gives you the possibility to specify a default name for output.
• tdm:default-suffix - hmmm. It is not very hard to guess what this stands for, isn’t it?
• tdm:default-filename - gives you the possibility to specify a default name for output.
• tdm:db-platforms - here you can see db-related restriction.
  The following definition means that the template is valid for all models created for all target databases.

  <tdm:db-platforms>
  <tdm:db-platform>all</tdm:db-platform>
  </tdm:db-platforms>
  

  This way you can define restriction and say to TDM that the XSLT should be available only for Oracle models.

  <tdm:db-platforms>
  <tdm:db-platform>OR9</tdm:db-platform>
  <tdm:db-platform>OR10</tdm:db-platform>
  <tdm:db-platform>OR11</tdm:db-platform>
  </tdm:db-platforms>
  

  What happens if you create a model for MS SQL Server and open the XSL Transformation dialog? Templates for Oracle model will not be loaded and will not appear in the combo-box.

Now see section 4 in the screenshots. Top-level parameters defined using standard XSLT instructions will appear in GUI. This way you can define parameters before you transform source to ouptut.

<xsl:param name="ListSeparator" select="," />
<xsl:param name="AttributeSeparator" select=";" />

That’s all for now. If you want to use the XSLT template, have a look at the following page:
http://modeling.inside.quest.com/entry.jspa?externalID=2575&categoryID=407

Have a nice day,

Vaclav

Hi,

I am going to write several articles related to generation of customized outputs from Toad Data Modeler. I hope you will find them useful and informative - and maybe you will get some inspiration for making customized templates. In the series you will find out:

• How to generate simplified XML files
• Where to get XSD file that describes structure of simplified XML
• How to create new XSLT file and where to put it
• How to define default file name and default suffix for outputs
• How to define Name and Description of your templates
• How to create parameters that will appear in GUI
• and finally an example of XSLT file that generates XSD from an Oracle model

At the end of this article you will find out that there is an easy way how to e.g. reverse engineer a database system and generate XSD schema for all reversed tables.

Let’s start with basic information and explanations. The current version of Toad Data Modeler allows you to generate detailed report via standard Model | Report… feature. However, there is also another possibility how to generate reports or other outputs. Click Model | Reports / XSL Transformation…. to see the other possibility. A dialog with predefined report types will open.

We can see there that using the XSL transformations we can generate HTML, CSV or XML files. What if we want to generate XSD, SVG or for example XAML code? Is it possible? - Sure! The XSL transformation allows us to work with data stored in our models without the necessity to study internal structure, scripting etc. If you are familiar with XML, xPath and XSLT, then it will be very easy for you to iterate tables, columns and other data and generate output you need to generate.

How it works: for every XSL transformation you need a source (XML file), a template (XSLT file) and a way how to do the transformation. Output type can be specified in the XSLT file.

In Toad Data Modeler, there is GUI that allows you to locate XSLT templates. But..where is the source? Where is XML? Good questions - On the XSL Transformation dialog, click the More button. The dialog will become twice large than it was and you will see there buttons Save XSD files as… and Show XSD File. Click the Show XSD File button. If XSD files are associated with some third party application (e.g. Visual Studio), then the file will open in the associated application. XSD file describes structure of “simplified XML”. In other words, it describes structure of our source. OK, how to generate a real XML file for testing purposes etc.? In the XSL Transformation dialog, select the Complete XML (XML) item from the first combo-box.

Then click Transform. This way you can geneate XML file. We call it “simplified XML”, because, as you probably know, all files created in Toad Data Modeler are in XML format. Save your model as *.TXP file and edit the file in notepad. You will see XML file structure. What’s the difference between simplified XML and standard TXP file? - In the amount and form of information. For example, in simplified XML you will find data types named logically, in TXP the same information is represented by GUID code. Also, simplified XML doesn’t contain information related to workspaces, generators and other data required by Toad Data Modeler application. That’s why you can get oriented in simplified XML much faster.

In next article I will explain how to create a new XSL Template and describe structure of XSL Templates used in Toad Data Modeler. Now I’d like to show you that using one relatively simple XSL template we can generate XSD for Oracle models. Download the “XML Schema (XSD) - Elements” template from the following location:
http://modeling.inside.quest.com/servlet/KbServlet/download/2574-102-4883/xsd-elements.zip

and put it to the same folder where system XSL templates are stored. Open the XSL Transformation dialog and see value in XSL File Location.

Then open any Oracle model or reverse engineer your existing Oracle database structure, click Model | Report / XSL Transformation… item and see a new item in the first combo-box. Click More, define parameters and then click Transform to generate the output and see the result.

The output can be visualized also in Visual Studio (considering column names are unique).

Regards,

Vaclav

Hi,

As you probably know, Toad Data Modeler allows you to convert a model from one database system to another. You can reverse engineer a physically existing Oracle database structure and convert your model to PostgreSQL or MS SQL Server model etc. Tables, relationships, columns and data types will be converted automatically together with logical information. Other database specific items like Triggers, Stored Procedures, Views etc. can be converted too, however, if you select such object types they will be automatically commented out in your newly created model. Why? Because you can write SQL code for Views or Triggers etc. that will work in Oracle, but won’t work in MS SQL Server. And you can face similar problems after converting Oracle 9 model to Oracle 11 model.

How can we easily remove comments (I mean automatically added comments) from the newly created model? - Via scripting!

See below a script that removes comments from newly created Oracle 11g model (converted from Oracle 10g model.)

function main()
{
var app = System.GetInterface('Application');
var Model = app.Models.GetObject(0);
//... parameter in GetObject determines with which model the script should work.
//0 = first model listed in the Application View, 1 = second model listed in the Application View etc.
var i, j, k;
var Entity, Trigger, View, Procedure, Function, CheckConstraint, Attribute, Domain, Default;

Model.Lock();

//Triggers, CheckConstraints
for (i=0; i<Model.Entities.Count; i++)
{
Entity = Model.Entities.GetObject(i);
for (j=0; j<Entity.Triggers.Count; j++)
{
Trigger = Entity.Triggers.GetObject(j);
Trigger.SQL = RemoveCommentChars(Trigger.SQL);
}
for (j=0; j<Entity.CheckConstraints.Count; j++)
{
CheckConstraint = Entity.CheckConstraints.GetObject(j);
CheckConstraint.SQL = RemoveCommentChars(CheckConstraint.SQL);
}
for (j=0; j<Entity.Attributes.Count; j++)
{
Attribute = Entity.Attributes.GetObject(j);
for (k=0; k<Attribute.CheckConstraints.Count; k++)
{
CheckConstraint = Attribute.CheckConstraints.GetObject(k);
CheckConstraint.SQL = RemoveCommentChars(CheckConstraint.SQL);
}
}
}

//Domain CheckConstraints
for (i=0; i<Model.Domains.Count; i++)
{
Domain = Model.Domains.GetObject(i);
for (j=0; j<Domain.CheckConstraints.Count; j++)
{
CheckConstraint = Domain.CheckConstraints.GetObject(j);
CheckConstraint.SQL = RemoveCommentChars(CheckConstraint.SQL);
}
}

//Defaults
for (i=0; i<Model.Defaults.Count; i++)
{
Default = Model.Defaults.GetObject(i);
Default.Value = RemoveCommentChars(Default.Value);
}

//Views
for (i=0; i<Model.Views.Count; i++)
{
View = Model.Views.GetObject(i);
View.SQL = RemoveCommentChars(View.SQL);
}

//Procedures
for (i=0; i<Model.Procedures.Count; i++)
{
Procedure = Model.Procedures.GetObject(i);
Procedure.SQL = RemoveCommentChars(Procedure.SQL);
}

//Functions
for (i=0; i<Model.Functions.Count; i++)
{
Function = Model.Functions.GetObject(i);
Function.SQL = RemoveCommentChars(Function.SQL);
}

Model.UnLock();
}

function RemoveCommentChars( strValue )
{
return strValue.replace(/^--/g,"").replace(/\n--/g,"\n");
}

How to run the script in Toad Data Modeler? Do the following, please:

• Enable Expert Mode - click Settings | Options and in section General, enable the Expert Mode checkbox.
• Click Tools | Scripting Window to open a form from where the script will be executed.
• Copy and paste the script to the main area.
• Click the Execute button (green arrow icon).

Regards,

Vaclav & TDM team

Hello all,

How are you doing in the new year? I do believe that very well.
Let me wish you good health and good all year 2009.

Our team is again fully at your disposal, ready and looking forward to your posts in the Modeling community. Please feel free to ask questions, post suggestions, requirements etc. We listen to your ideas and are pleased to help.

Let me summarize current state regarding Toad Data Modeler:

* Latest version - Toad Data Modeler 3.3.7.22 is available at:
http://www.quest.com/common/registration.aspx?requestdefid=10037

Note: We’ve been reported some troubles during the download by some users. Nevertheless, whenever we check it out, it works fine. So, if you encounter any problem during the download, please do not hesitate to contact the Quest Support team at: support@quest.com.
You can also call them, see the numbers at: https://support.quest.com/SUPPORT/index?page=contactSupport.
Thanks.

* Flash movies introducing new features/enhancements in latest TDM version can be found at:
http://modeling.inside.quest.com/kbcategory.jspa?categoryID=158

* Beta program continues
We are working at a new Beta version. At the moment no BETA is available as the official TDM version 3.3.7.22 is the most up-to-date version.

* Modeling community contest
So far, two third generation i-Pods and four Amazon Gift certificates have been given! The Modeling community contest continues also in the new year. New contest conditions will be announced soon. (Next time, you can be the winner.  ).

Well, I hope I mentioned all information that is important and helpful for you. In any case, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to write.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Have a nice day.

Take care,

Vladka + TDM Team

Dear community members and TDM users,

Let me inform you that our Toad Data Modeler development team is out of office during the Christmas holiday season (22 December - 5 January 2009). We all will be celebrating Christmas holidays at home with our families.
Therefore, we would like to ask you for patience during these days. We will be back and fully at your disposal on 5 January 2009. 

Thank you very much for understanding it.
===============

We wish you, your family and friends a happy holiday season and good health in the year 2009.
We hope the coming new year brings you many wonderful experiences, unforgettable nice moments and meeting interesting and pleasant people.
We do believe you will successfully weather all storms that might come in the new year.

Thank you very much for all your support this year!

Your Toad Data Modeler Dev Team

Hello,

I am pleased to announce the release of Toad Data Modeler 3.3.7.

This version brings:
- new features: PDF report and Watermark in RTF report,
- bug fixes in Convertor and alter scripts.

Toad Data Modeler 3.3.7 is a patch to Toad Data Modeler 3.3.5. Version 3.3.5 brought great new features and enhancements and more than seventy resolved issues. Please see their brief list below.

============
New Features
============
- Support of MS SQL Server 2008
- Support of PostgreSQL 8.3
- Support for MySQL 5.1
- Object Viewer
- Reports through XSL transformation
- XSD File generation
- Side-by-side installation

============
Enhancements
============
- Alter scripts for MS SQL Server 2005
- Possibility to select objects by category or schema/owner on Workspace
- Reverse engineering - Support for Oracle 11g client, Unicode support for Oracle/Direct connection to MySQL
- DDL script generation - Preview function before you save the generated SQL code.
- Physical model - M:N relationships
- Logical model - Possibility to map relationships.
- and more.

For other details on the new release, please read the announcement posted in the Modeling community at:
http://modeling.inside.quest.com/thread.jspa?threadID=8485&tstart=0

Thank you.

Regards,

Vladka & TDM Team