CA ERwin Data Modeler

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

ERwin CASE tool on Windows 2000

CA ERwin Data Modeler (ERwin) is a software tool for data modeling (data requirements analysis, database design etc) of custom developed information systems, including databases of transactional systems and data marts. ERwin's data modeling engine is based upon the IDEF1X method, although it now supports diagrams displayed with information engineering notation as well.

1 History
2 Distinguishing features
3 Competitors
4 See also
5 Publications
6 External links

[edit] History

ERwin was created by Logic Works. It was acquired in 1998 by Platinum Technology, which was later acquired in May 1999 by Computer Associates, who added it to their AllFusion suite under the name AllFusion ERwin Data Modeler. Logic Works companion products include BPwin, an IDEF0 process modeling tool and ModelMart to support group (collaborative) development of both data and process models. The tool was later renamed to CA ERwin Data Modeler.

[edit] Distinguishing features

Logical Data Modeling: Logical only models may be created, from which physical models may be derived. Also combinations logical and physical models are supported. Supports entity-type and attribute logical names and descriptions, logical domains and data types, as well as relationship naming.

Physical Data Modeling: Physical only models may be created as well as combination logical and physical models. Supports table and column naming and descriptions, user defined data types, as well as primary key, foreign key, alternate key and check constraint definition and naming. Support for indexes, views, stored procedures and triggers is also included.

Logical to Physical Transformation: Includes an abbreviation/naming dictionary called "Naming Standards Editor" and logical to RDBMS data type mapping facility called "Datatype Standards Editor", each customizable with entries and basic rule enforcement.

Forward engineering: Once the database designer is satisfied with the physical model, the tool will automically script SQL data Definition Language (DDL), directly executing on the RDBMS environment or saved as script file.

Reverse engineering: If an analyst needs to examine and understand an existing data structure, ERwin will faithfully capture a depiction of the physical database objects in an ERwin model file.

Model to model comparison: If an analyst or designer needs to understand what changes may have occurred between two model files (including real time reversed engineered files), ERwin presents "Complete/ Compare" for that purpose.