Embarcadero announced today that they're partnering with DBE Software. They want to use their Schema Examiner to add functionality to ERStudio and RapidSQL.
What this does is analyze database models from a design perspective and provides recommendations based off of key elements. As with benchmarking, data modeling is one of my diatribes, and it's really a lost skill. Nobody really understands the modeling process anymore, nor do they really understand the relational concepts. Schema Exmainer's 'Teach Me' functionality will examine the model for you and tell you what's potentially wrong with it and why. Even for experienced modelers this can be a huge benefit because it's very difficult to reverse-engineer a model with 300+ tables and getting started is quite often the hardest part. Also, if you don't know the data very well it can also be very difficult to analyze the model.
Schema Examiner bridges this gap, and while it doesn't always catch every problem with a schema, it will take you a long way in getting started. I wouldn't just blindly make all the changes suggested, but I would use them as a reference as I went through the model myself. I find that schema problems are usually consistent, so whenever you find a problem in a table, the same problem usually exists in a lot of the others as well and Schema Examiner will be good at determining those system-wide performance killers.
In my opinion, this is the only real advantage ERWin users have had over ERStudio users for a long time. Especially with the new release of ERStudio, it is very quickly leaving ERWin in the dust. ERStudio already leaves ERWin buried in the usability category. It's GUI is much nicer, and the way it implements common functionality is much more user friendly. This new functionality will finally close that functionality gap that Embarcadero so desperately needed.
The major functionality list is below:
• Comprehensive Diagnostics and Reporting. Schema Examiner analyzes the schema’s data structure and generates graphic documentation of the entire database structure. The diagnostic can be customized.
• Design Discrepancy Isolation. The innovative “Show Me” facility isolates specific design issues in complex data models, eliminating the task of sifting through thousands of lines of code.
• Improved Productivity and Accuracy. A comprehensive set of diagnostics validates database design, recommends improvements, and automatically generates scripts to quickly execute design changes.
• Maximize Design Efficiency. Schema Examiner allows users to check and validate alterations to a database design, as well as simulate design changes before implementing them.
• Increase database performance by identifying violations of best practices that adversely affect performance. Suggested changes are scripted for easy implementation.
• “Teach Me” Facility. In addition to providing specific diagnostic and recommendations, the solution explains reveals the impact of design choices or modifications in light of Relational Theory.
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Posted by Sean McCown on April 27, 2006 07:26 AM
