Several Tips for Large Models
Hello,
How are you doing? I hope that you’re fine today and interested to learn about some other tips you can use in Toad Data Modeler. This time, I’d like to provide you with several quick tips for your large model.
1. Speed Up the Application
During the installation process, do not install database systems that you do not use.
Example: If you use only Oracle database, install only support for Oracle database.
2. Divide Your Large Model
You can divide your large ER diagram into Workspaces (WS). First WS is called All Items. This WS is meant as the main model and contains all objects of your model. You can create other workspaces and add there only some objects.
Example: Videorental sample model has besides the All Items WS also Ordering WS, Borrowing WS etc.
3. Work in the Same Workspace Concurrently
If you need to work with objects placed in different places of one workspace, you can open another Designer of the same WS - right-click the selected WS | Open Designer.
You can undock the Designer and use it concurrently on another monitor, for example.
Example: Open several Designers of one WS, display different parts of the same WS or the same objects of the WS in a different zoom. Feel free to work with them.
4. Create Shortcuts of Objects
Let’s say you need to display parent and child entities close to each other in your large model (in one workspace). Or An entity has too many relationships so as it is not transparent. -> Toad Data Modeler enables you to create another graphical representative (shortcut) of the entity, relationship… You can create as many shortcuts in WS as you need.
Details are explained in the Help file | Shortcuts (use search on the Index tab).
Movie on shortcuts:
http://modeling.inside.quest.com/entry.jspa?externalID=1669&categoryID=158
5. Colorfully Distinguish Entities
To distinguish groups of entities in your large ER diagram, create a category, select a name for the category and assign entities to it.
Select Model | Categories.
Tip! To see categories also in Model Explorer, Entities folder, right-click the Model Explorer | Settings | select the Use Colors of Category to Draw checkbox.
6. Generate HTML Report Faster
For your large model, Frames - top menu or Frames - left menu options are recommended (step Select Layout in the Report Wizard).
Notes:
Frameless report layout is not recommended as it uses Java script that goes through all objects, which takes too much time if your model is large.
Frameless layout shall be used for Internet Explorer 7 and FireFox 2. Reports with Frameless layout will not be displayed in older browsers correctly.
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Next time, I’ll write about page format settings and model print.
Looking forward to your comments! 
Have a nice day.
Regards,
Vladka