Hello TDM users,

From the post we receive from you, the TDM Convertor seems to be a real mystery to many of you. So, it’s a great theme to deal with on our weblog.

In this new series on Convertor, I will show and try to explain how the Convertor works, what it can do, how to deal with it. I will suggest some practices and steps to take etc.

The first part of the series covers the following topics:
1. Convertor - Introduction
2. Alter Script Generation
    - Generate Alter Script for Model 2 (Model Original)
 
If you feel helpless to generate alter script in Convertor, please do read these topics. On a practical example, I’m explaining what, how, where, why etc. As the document contains a lot of screenshots and is quite comprehensive, I’ve made a .pdf file that is available at:
http://modeling.inside.quest.com/entry.jspa?externalID=2101&categoryID=159

Please download it. If any question comes to your mind or if you like to share your feedback with me and others, please do not hesitate to write a comment - here or our community forum.

Now let me quote some helpful and important information from the series (from this and next parts that will be published):
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A sample procedure for performing model merge or alter script generation in Convertor:

1. Selecting models as Model 1 and Model 2.
2. Defining settings of Object Types and Properties.
3. Selecting actions to perform in Convertor.
4. Selecting items for the action (modifying blue arrows).
5. Execution
——————

The first step you should take before you start any action in Convertor is to consider which model will be Model 1 and which model will be Model 2. Generally, for alter script generation and model merge it stands that Model 2 should be the model that you want to update/modify.

For faster and more comfortable work in Convertor I recommend to take advantage of the default behavior of Convertor:

Convertor has been designed this way:
* Convertor compares the models, marks the differences and automatically adds blue arrows to the items that:
  - are missing in Model 2 (target model),
   - exist in both models and are different.
* The blue arrows are automatically set up to apply changes from Model 1 (modified model) to update Model 2 (original model). (Direction from the left to the right).
* No manual changes are necessary here (if you do not want to make them on your own).

1. Open the Convertor from the modified model (Model 1)
2. In the Convertor dialog, select the model that you want to update as Model 2.
…
===============

Drop by our community library to read all parts of the series that will be published gradually.

Have a nice day.

Vladka

Hello,

Today I’d like to share a few helpful tips for page format settings and model print. I’ve called it “Seven times YES” and hope you’ll appreciate them.
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1. Can you resize the page to include more or less entities on a printed page?
Yes. Select File | Page Format and change the size. The settings here are taken for Print then.

2. Can I turn off the display of page boundaries?
Yes. Select Settings | Options | Graphics | clear the Visible Page Boundaries checkbox. (Note: Available in Beta 3.2.3.9.)

3. Can I customize the page size?
Yes. See the Page Format dialog | Scale area | from the Page box, select Custom. Define Height and Width on the right.
The measure unit in TDM is millimeter (mm). 1 foot = approx. 300 mm, 4 feet = approx. 1200 mm.

4. Is there an option to fit an ERD to one page?
Yes. In the Page Format dialog, select the Fit to Page checkbox.

5. Is there a way to print the model much faster?
Yes. Disable graphical options in Workspace Format dialog for much faster print performance.
(Gradient Effect, Graphical Display of Keys etc.)

6. Is Print to PDF Possible?
Yes. You may try to print your ER diagram  to PDF using “PDF printer”. Note: Not all PDF printers are supported.

7. Can I turn off the display of the box around the ERD and page identifier for the model print?
Yes. Select File | Print | Settings tab | clear the Print Frame and Print Page Number checkboxes.
==================

If you have any questions or remarks, please feel free to write me.

Take care,

Vladka
 

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. 

(more…)

Hello,

Today I’d like to show you some ways how to find a particular entity in Workspace.

Example A:

- You need to find an entity of which whole name you don’t remember. You only know there is a word “rating”.
- You know on which Workspace (WS) the entity is. OR Your model has only one WS.

Steps:
1. Open the model and activate particular Workspace.
2. Press CTRL + F (Edit menu | Find).
3. Type the entity name.
You can use e.g. the following search string: *rating or only rat*, *ting etc.
Another search string: ?rating
* - for unlimited number of characters,
? - for one character.

(more…)

Hello,

Just a quick note to inform you that I’ve put together the parts of the series about Relationship Lines, updated them for latest Beta 3.2.2.22 and published as .pdf file at:
http://modeling.inside.quest.com/entry.jspa?externalID=1941&categoryID=159

Feel free to download it.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to write me via the Modeling community. Thanks!

Regards,

Vladka

Hello all,

I’m happy to inform you that a new Beta version 3.2.2.22 has been released.

Feel free to read about all changes in Beta 3.2.2.22 at:
http://modeling.inside.quest.com/entry.jspa?externalID=1913&categoryID=29

Beta download:
http://modeling.inside.quest.com/ann.jspa?annID=150

With the new TDM Beta release, I’d like to introduce you some of the new features/enhancements.
As the Help file and Manual are not being updated for Beta releases, I’d like to take advantage of our weblog to provide you with some helpful and important information, give tips and post references on the new improvements. So, let’s go…
Select a topic that interests you:

1. Support for MS Access 2000/2002/2003
2. Import from SQL Script - for Oracle models only
3. SQL Code Generation by SCHEMA/USER + Auto Check
4. Adding Attributes to Primary Key via Double-Click
5. Alignment of Relationship Break Points
6. Move Caption of Relationship
7. Navigation in Workspace
8. Autolayout
9. Wordwrap
10. New Workspace Properties Dialog
11. Model Properties versus Stamp

1. Support for MS Access 2000/2002/2003
Toad Data Modeler doesn’t generate an SQL script for the MS Access database, but does generate a fully functional source code in the VBA language. The source code can be executed directly in the MS Access as Module. Appropriate libraries in MS Access are necessary - “Microsoft ActiveX Data Objects 2.x Library” and “Microsoft ADO Ext. 2.x for DDL and Security” for ADO, or “Microsoft DAO 3.6 Object Library” for DAO.
To select a suitable library, click the Tools menu | References (in MS Access main menu).

In the beginning of every script generated for MS Access, you will see the following order:

(more…)

Hello,

Here I’m with another part of our series about relationship lines. Today’s topics are:

BREAK POINTS and HIDE/FORMAT RELATIONSHIP NAMES.

Situation A:
Can I add break points in both modes - Straight and Right Angled too?

Yes, simply select the relationship, press CTRL, hold it down and click the relationship line where you like to add the break point.

Situation B:
I cannot remove a break point from a relationship in Right Angled mode. Is it possible at all?

In this mode, you can remove only break points that do NOT break the line. E.g. if you have several break points in one line segment, you can remove them. However, you are not allowed to remove break points that break the line and keep/make it right-angled.
To remove a break point:
1. Select a relationship.
2. Press CTRL, hold it down and point your mouse cursor at a break point you’d like to remove. -> The mouse cursor will change to a small black arrow.
3. Click the selected break point.

To remove unnecessary break points from a relationship at one jump:
Right-click the relationship and select Reduce Breakpoints.

Situation C:
I cannot move a break point in Right Angled mode. Is it possible at all?

No, it is not possible. In Right Angled mode, you can only move line segments. To select any, press ALT and click the selected line segment. Then use drag and drop techniques or keyboard arrows to move it.

Notes:
- In upcoming Beta 3.2.2.22, it will be possible to select several line segments via the SHIFT key (in Straight mode).
- In upcoming Beta 3.2.2.22, it will be also possible to align selected break points (there will be the new option Align Breakpoints in the Edit menu).

HIDE/FORMAT RELATIONSHIP NAMES

Situation A:
I need to hide relationship names in Workspace.

Right-click the WS | select Workspace Format | General tab | clear the Display Line Names checkbox.
To set it up for new models/workspaces, select Settings | Options | Physical/Logical Model | clear the Display Line Names checkbox.

Situation B:
I need to change format of names for selected relationships at one jump.

1. Make selection of the relationships (SHIFT key).
2. Right-click any relationship | select Format | General tab | Font Settings.

Note: In upcoming Beta 3.2.2.22, it will be also possible to move caption of relationship line, which may come in handy if your model is large and you need to know the name of the relationship on particular place of the ERD, or if the caption seems to be lost in your large ERD.
==============
Next time, some tips on selecting and moving relationships will be given.

Have a nice day.

Regards,

Vladka

Hello,

Our series about relationship lines in Toad Data Modeler continues. Today I’d like to write about creating relationship lines and adding shortcuts of relationships to new or already existing workspaces.  
See below some situations (taken from often asked questions) and possible solutions. More screenshots will be presented today.

Enjoy!

CREATE A RELATIONSHIP

Situation A:
I need to create several non-identifying relationships.

1. Press SHIFT and click the Non-identifying Relationship icon. A blue frame will appear in the icon.
2. Create as many relationships in you model as you need. To turn this function off, right-click the work area (or click the Relationship icon again).

Situation B:
I need to define a track for the relationship line on my own while I create the relationship. (Not satisfied how TDM adds relationships automatically.)
(more…)