Oracle SQL Developer Data Modeler is a free data modeling and design tool used to increase developer productivity by providing the means to develop logical, multi-dimensional, user defined data types, relational and physical data models. The tool provides full forward engineering, including engineering from Logical ERD models to Relational models and the reverse, importing from the Data Dictionary and DDL script generation. The Data Modeler imports from and exports to a variety of sources and targets, provides a variety of formatting options and validates the models through a predefined set of design rules. The latest release, SQL Developer Data Modeler 3.0 includes the ability to create user defined design rules and transformation scripts. User can also manage their files through integrated support for Subversion, an open-source version control tool. For more detail on the latest features and to learn how to use them see the SQL Developer Data Modeler home page on the Oracle Technology Network.
Oracle SQL Developer Data Modeler runs on the following operating systems:
- Microsoft Windows (XP, Vista, Windows 7 including x64)
- Linux
- Mac OS X
The following requirements must be met to install and run correctly:
- JavaTM 1.6 or higher Standard Edition Runtime Environment
- About 125 MB on Hard Disk
- 512 MB at a minimum, 1 GB RAM is recommended
Note:
- We provide the download with and without the Java Runtime. If you download the files without the Java Runtime, you'll be prompted on startup for the path for the JRE. The minimum is JRE 1.6.
- For the Linux install, download the .rpm file. For the Mac install, download the macosx.tar.gz file.
If you have worked with the production release of SQL Developer Data Modeler 2.0, then you can save and reuse the default settings you made in the Tools > General Options menu, such as the Default Design Directory and Formatting Options. After installing SQL Developer Data Modeler 3.0, you can use the Import/Export function in the Tools > Preferences > Data Modeler menu to import the \datamodeler\bin\settings.xml file.
- Download and unzip the files into a new and empty directory. Do not unzip over any existing installations, should you have them.
- For Linux and Mac OS X installations, the downloaded files do not include a JRE. When prompted, direct the install to your JRE 1.6 directory. If JRE 1.5 is already installed and is the default, you will not be prompted. In this case edit the datamodeler.conf file in the \datamodeler\datamodeler\bin directory and add SetJavaHome. (e.g. SetJavaHome /usr/lib/jdk16_04)
- 64-Bit Support: SQL Developer Data Modeler is supported on 64-bit platforms, ensure you use the 64-bit executable available in the zip file.
If you want to open models built in SQL Developer Data Modeler 2.0, you must use "Save As" before you start making changes in the SQL Developer Data Modeler 3.0. Please note: Early adopter releases are not supported, so if you have been using the early adopter releases, you are advised to update the original models created in SQL Developer Data Modeler 2.0 release.
You can print your diagrams to a number of file formats, including PDF, PNG, JPG, SVG.
You can export your designs to a reporting repository. Read the online help
or the
FAQ for more information. There is a brief Oracle by Example tutorial that
walks you through creating and accessing the reporting repository and running
the reports. Search for "Data Modeler" in the Oracle
Learning Library for all tutorials.
Note: The reporting schema has been updated and so you can
use the update script (see the installation directory, \datamodeler\reports)
that will apply changes to an existing repository created with Data Modeler
2.0. The update script is not required when an existing repository is deleted
and a new repository created.
SQL Developer Data Modeler 3.0 introduces integrated reporting. See New Features for more.
SQL Developer Data Modeler 3.0 reporting repository is also supported on Oracle Database Express Edition 10g.
- SQL Developer Data Modeler connects to and imports directly from the Oracle Designer repository.
- The following is a list of supported imports from Oracle Designer
Domains, object (structured) types, collection types
Entities, relationships, arcs, entity inheritance hierarchies
Tables, views, foreign keys, arcs
Triggers for tables and views
Snapshots, clusters, synonyms, sequences
Each diagram that contains tables is transformed into a subview in the Relational model
Each diagram that contains entities is transformed into a subview in the Logical model
Each diagram that contains object (structured) types is transformed into a subview in the Data Types model
- SQL Developer Data Modeler does not import tablespaces, stored procedures, packages, functions and data flow diagrams from the Oracle Designer Repository. (Support for these are planned for a future release) As these structures are supported in the product, users can import these definitions into SQL Developer Data Modeler by connecting directly to the Oracle Data Dictionary.
- SQL Developer Data Modeler does not include a default domains file.
- To create new domain definitions, select Tools > Domains Administration and click Add to create and add your own domains. These domains are added to the default file, defaultdomains.xml and can be used for all your projects.
- To create a named domains file, select Tools > Domains Administration and click the Select button, next to the Domains File field. Type in a new file name and click open. Now you can add all the new domains to this file as described. In order to use the new file you need to import these domains into your current design, otherwise the default domains file is used.To import a domains file. select File > Import > Domains. You can accept all the domains or select those you want to import individually.
To compare two logical models, ensure you have one model open and then select File > Import > Data Modeler Design. You can now select the logical model for the comparison. Once you have made the selection, you are presented with the Compare Merge dialog.
- To compare two relational models, ensure you have one relational model open in the design and then select File > Import > Data Dictionary (or DDL). In the import dialog you get the choice to "Swap Target Model". This drives the point of truth and the resulting merge compare dialog. You can elect either to merge the models or to View DDL to see the DDL to update the data dictionary.
- The current model can also be compared to another Data Modeler design using Tools > Compare /Merge Models.
All passwords set in the physical model are encrypted when saving a design in the file system.
The Tools > Preferences >Data Modeler > Model > Relational >Default Foreign Key Delete Rule defines the delete rule when a new FK is created. If you create a model by importing a DDL script, then ensure the option is set as required before the import.
When cloning the physical details from one model to another, ensure you have saved the database you want to clone from. Note you can only clone databases of the same release or lower. i.e. to populate a new Oracle Database 11g physical model, you can select a saved Oracle Database 11g or earlier.
You can add you design to a Subversion repository using a few different approaches; either from within SQL Developer Data Modeler, or by using a separate client.
For more information on using Subversion with SQL Developer Data Modeler see the Documentation and the online demonstrations available.
SQL Developer Data Modeler 3.0 allows users to build scripts for user defined design rules and transformations. Object properties are described in "datamodeler/datamodeler/xmlmetadata/doc" directory; use index.html.
The product provides a few samples as illustrations of user defined design rules and transformations. For more information see the Documentation and the online demonstrations available.
There is a list of new features available for review. Watch the new feature demonstrations available online.
- Oracle Designer 9i and above
- CA Erwin Data Modeler 4.x and 7.x
- Sterling COOL: DBA V2.1, Sterling Bsnteam V7.2 and Cayenne Bsnteam V7.2 formats
- For Multi-Dimensional Models
Cube Views metadata
XMLA
Oracle SQL Developer Data Modeler imports from:
- Supported Oracle Databases, Microsoft SQL Server 2000 or 2005, DB2/LUW V7 or V8, IBM DB2 for OS/390 and z/OS script file
- Supported Oracle Databases, Microsoft SQL Server2000 or 2005, IBM DB2/LUW V7 or V8, IBM DB2 for OS/390 and z/OS and ODBC/JDBC compliant data dictionary
IMPORTANT: Oracle does not ship the non-Oracle drivers.To access the non-Oracle databases, you need to download and add the drivers required.
The drivers can be downloaded from the following links:
- For Microsoft SQL Server:
SQL Server 2000 For SQL Server 2000 you must make sure you have installed all three .jar files: msbase.jar, mssqlserver.jar and msutil.jar
SQL Server 2005 The drivers for SQL Server 2000 can be used for import from SQL Server 2005 database.
- For DB2/LUW:
IBM Data Server Driver for JDBC and SQLJ The driver for ODBC/JDBC is included in Java, so there is nothing extra to install
To add the drivers yourself: Go to Tools > Preferences > Data Modeler > Third Party JDBC drivers
After installing, the drivers must be set in the Preferences dialog as follows:
- SQL Server 2000 - msbase.jar, mssqlserver.jar, msutil.jar
- SQL Server 2005 - sqljdbc.jar
- DB2/UDB - db2jcc.jar
- Supported Oracle Databases
- Microsoft SQL Server 2000 or 2005
- IBM DB2/LUW V7 and V8 script file
- Multi-dimensional support
Cube View Metadata
XMLA and Oracle ROLAP and MOLAP (AW)
- CSV file
We are aware of the following limitations and issues. This list is not exhaustive, but a list of issues that you may encounter.
To see a list of bugs fixed and enhancement requests implemented in SQL Developer Data Modeler 3.0, please follow see Bugs Fixed. The list is not exhaustive, but does include a number of issues reported by users. SQL Developer Data Modeler is supported through My Oracle Support for all users with an Oracle Database support license. Your feedback is also welcomed on the Data Modeler OTN forum.
You can use the documentation in the Oracle SQL Developer Data Modeler Help or access the online documentation.
There is a dedicated Oracle SQL Developer Data Modeler page. You can also reach this page from the SQL Developer OTN homepage.
Use the Oracle SQL Developer Data Modeler forum on OTN for any discussion or queries.