Oracle introduces Oracle SQL Developer Data Modeller

To help developers quickly and easily design data models for the Oracle Database, Oracle today introduced the Oracle SQL Developer Data Modeller.

This comprehensive, standalone tool supports logical, relational, multidimensional and data type modelling while featuring multi-layered design and generation capabilities to produce conceptual entity relationship diagrams (ERDs) and transform them to relational models. Users can build, extend and modify a model as well as compare with existing designs.

Oracle SQL Developer Data Modeller is generally available today and is downloadable from the Oracle Technology Network (OTN).

Data models are powerful communication aids that are used when initiating projects and consolidating or updating existing projects.

Oracle SQL Developer Data Modeller delivers a spectrum of data and database modelling capabilities spanning:

Visual entity relationship modelling - Supports both Barker and Bachman notations so developers can switch between models to suit the audience's needs or create and save different visual displays.

Forward engineering ERDs to relational models - Transforms all rules and decisions made at the conceptual level to the relational model, where details are further refined and updated.

Separate relational and physical models - Enables developers to develop a single relational model for different database versions or different databases such as Oracle Database, IBM DB2 V7 and V8 for Linux, UNIX and Windows and OS/390 mainframe, and Microsoft SQL Server 2000 and 2005.

Full spectrum of physical database definitions - Supports physical definitions such as partitions, roles, and table-spaces for specific database versions for multi-database, multi-vendor support leading to improved developer consistency and productivity.

The new tool integrates seamlessly with Oracle SQL Developer - Oracle's popular graphical tool for database development - to let developers open and view previously developed designs as well as query, run and write reports against the reporting repository.

Oracle SQL Developer Data Modeller is available for all editions of Oracle Database 11g and runs on Windows, Linux and Mac OS X. The tool is also available for Oracle Database 10g.

“Every successful application starts with a strong data model,” said Mike Hichwa, vice-president of Software Development, Oracle. “Oracle SQL Developer Data Modeller not only provides a graphical way to develop data models, but an effective way to communicate existing data models to application developers.”

“There are many data modelling tools available to the development community,” said Maggie Tompkins, Civilian Marine with the United States Marine Corps, and longstanding member of Oracle Development Tools User Group (ODTUG). “The idea is to select one that does data models plus adds value to your products or organisation. We've been using the early adopter release of Oracle SQL Developer Data Modeller, and have found it feature rich and easy to use. Having taught data modelling to others for many years, most class time is spent learning a tool. It's just the opposite with Oracle SQL Developer Data Modeller. It's so intuitive to use that we can focus class time on the actual data model, its content and meaning, and not the 'how to' of the tool.”