Database Designer for MySQL offers many features that allow you to be creative and productive in your work on database design and maintenance.
MySQL Native Support
Database Designer for MySQL provides native support for MySQL objects and data types. You can work with them in a very intuitive graphical interface. The central part of the application is a diagram that gives you a visual representation of the MySQL database.
The product supports all MySQL data types including TIMESTAMP, YEAR, TEXT, SET and other. Multiple table types and their features are also supported. You are able to manage table columns, indexes, references and other MySQL objects in the easiest way.
After you have completed designing the database diagram you can generate physical database directly on MySQL server and even modify the already existing local or remote database. Please, note that you can start working with the diagram by reverse engineering an existing MySQL database.
For further assistance please see the following topics:
Reverse Engineering and Import overview.
Support of Modern MySQL Versions
Database Designer for MySQL supports 3.x, 4.x, 5.x and partially 6.x MySQL server versions.
Support of Stored Procedures, Functions, Views and Events
Database Designer for MySQL is the CASE tool, which supports MySQL 5.x+ innovative features such as stored procedures and functions, triggers, events and views.
For further assistance please see the following topics:
Stored Procedures and Functions
Direct Connection to MySQL
Database Designer for MySQL has a unique ability to connect to MySQL databases directly without any slow and unreliable intermediates, such as ODBC or ADODB. It greatly improves the performance of such frequent operations as database synchronization and generation. Also this feature noticeably simplifies the process of setting up database connection: you don't have to tune any additional drivers such as MyODBC.
Direct connection to MySQL databases became possible due to the DAC for MySQL Delphi/C++Builder components from MicroOLAP Technologies.
Domains Support
The product has integrated Domains support for faster defining the required column properties. The domains are user-defined types, which contain all column information (data type, key options, dimensions and flags). This allows you to add and modify existing domain-based columns in multiple tables at once. Currently domains are not supported by MySQL, so it is a Database Designer for MySQL extension to the server.
For further assistance please see the following topics:
Using Domains tutorial
Domain Manager overview.
Easy Object Location and Modification
You can easily navigate through the diagram objects by using Object Tree View window. It contains combined information about all objects of your diagram and displays the diagram in a hierarchical tree structure. Object Tree View window shows you: Domains, Tables, Columns, Indexes, References, Events. To locate any diagram object quickly, right-click on it in the Object Tree View window and select 'Go to object' from the context menu.
Also, Database Designer for MySQL provides you with very handy tools to help you modify significant parameters of multiple objects quickly:
Table Manager (Diagram | Table Manager menu item)
Column Manager (Diagram | Column Manager menu item)
Domain Manager (Diagram | Domain Manager menu item)
Index Manager (Diagram | Index Manager menu item)
Reference Manager (Diagram | Reference Manager menu item)
Stored Routine Manager (Diagram | Stored Routine Manager menu item)
View Manager (Diagram | View Manager menu item)
Event Manager (Diagram | Event Manager menu item).
Check Diagram Function
Database Designer for MySQL can check your diagram for consistency and find typical errors, which may occur during the process of database design and maintenance. In terms of convenience, this feature can be compared to Microsoft Word's spell checker. It saves your time greatly and gives you the opportunity to concentrate on the main development tasks.
For further assistance please see Check Diagram function.
Import From Multiple Data Sources
Database Designer for MySQL can generate your diagram from an existing database structure. It's possible by reverse engineering a MySQL database or importing a structure from other data sources.
Database Designer for MySQL allows you to import database objects from MySQL database, Microsoft Access and any ADO (OLEDB)-compatible datasources (Oracle, PostgreSQL, MS SQL and other)
For further assistance please see Reverse Engineering and Import Overview.
Report Generator
Database Designer for MySQL can generate comprehensive printable reports for you. This gives you the possibility of getting a hard copy of the report by printing it out. After that you can have your diagram approved by your colleagues and managers.
Generated reports contain information about all tables, their indexes, columns and references.
You can get reports in HTML format, please see Reports overview.
SQL Editor and Executor
With Database Designer for MySQL you do not need any external tools for executing simple SQL statements and queries. The SQL Executor tool allows you to modify the existing structure of a local or remote database and even view data by running SELECT/INSERT/UPDATE/DELETE SQL statements
For further assistance please see SQL Executor.
Full Customization of Diagram and Objects Appearance
The appearance of the diagram can be adjusted according to your requirements and wishes. You can set the colors of the object background, object lines and references. You can configure the representation of the table information: enable showing of column and indexes icons, displaying indexes, keys, foreign keys and other.
For further assistance please see Diagram Overview and Diagram Display Preferences.
Multi-document Interface
Database Designer for MySQL has Multi-Document Interface. This means that you can edit multiple documents simultaneously. You can place more than one diagram onto your work space, switch between them quickly, compare them, and drag objects from one to another
For further assistance please see Diagram Window.
Export of diagram to Graphical File
The product can export your diagram into multiple graphical formats: bitmap (PNG, GIF, JPEG) by using File | Export | Image menu item and vector (EMF) by using File | Export | Vector Graphics menu item. This allows you to use graphical representation of a diagram in your documents (i.e. use it in Microsoft Word, LaTeX and other), publish diagram to Web sites, create big posters with it.
For further assistance please see Export to Graphics.
Database Generation
When you have finished creating the database diagram, you get the possibility of generating SQL script for it (Database | Generate Database) and you can build the database on a local or remote MySQL server directly.
For further assistance please see Database Generation.
Database Modification
The Synchronize Database (Database | Modify Database) tool helps you not only generate a new database but, what is more important, synchronize the existing MySQL database with the diagram you are developing. Database Designer for MySQL will automatically generate all required SQL statements. Which means that you do not have to create complex and inconvenient ALTER TABLE statements manually; moreover it significantly reduces the complexity and improves the reliability of all database modification tasks. Whatever complex diagram you have, you can synchronize the database with it literally in two clicks
For further assistance please see Database Modification overview.
Database Connection Manager
You can store the connection profiles for your database within the Database Connection Manager and access any of them quickly. You do not have to remember multiple parameters of connections - just click on the connection profile and get access to the database
For further assistance please see Database Connection Manager overview.
See also:
Tutorials: Creating Your First Diagram, Using Domains