What's New in Version 6

DeZign for Databases V6 is a major release that is the product of almost two years of development. This document outlines the host of new features and improvements that help make DeZign for Databases the ultimate database design tool. On January 27, 2010 we releases version 6.1.0. See release notes.      > Upgrade now (starting from $78)

What's New New in version 6 Version history Compare versions Upgrade now

New Connector Routing Styles for Relationships Two new auto-routing algorithms give you more flexibility in positioning the lines of a relationship. Next to the auto-routing style (Z-Style), you can now also choose the U-Style or the C-Style routing style. With these new connector routing styles you can control to which side of an entity-box the line will be attached. The U-Style allows routing from top-to-top, top-to-bottom or bottom-to-bottom. The C-Style allows routing from left-to-left, left-to-right or right-to-right. Using different connector routing styles increases the readability of diagrams. Available in all editions. See it in action

Compare and Synchronize Data Model with Live Database You made changes to your data model and want to forward these changes to your database? This can be done easily with Version 6. DeZign for Databases loads your databases and compares it with your data model, displays the differences and allows you to select which differences must be moved to the database. DeZign for Databases will then automatically generate a database update script (alter script) or implements the changes on the database directly. With the addition of the compare and synchronize model-to-database feature, DeZign for Databases offers compare and synchronize functionality for all synchronization use cases: model-to-database, model-to-script, database-to-model, script-to-model, model-to-model. Available in Expert edition. See it in action

Team Work: Compare and Merge Projects When two or more people work on the same data model, DeZign for Databases V6 has a new compare and merge utility for projects. This utility allows developers to compare and merge two versions of the same data model. They can browse and accept or reject any changes for database objects and (sub)diagrams. With the merge projects utility you can manage parallel development of models by a team. Available in Expert edition. See it in action

Conditional Generation Conditional generation lets you generate selected parts of your data model. You can define the generation directives that must be used for schema generation. You can use generation directives in database objects code including trigger code, view code, procedure code, check constraints etc. Available in Expert edition.

Database-Independent Models: Output to Multiple Databases Version 6 introduces the database-independent data model. You no longer have to select a target DBMS for a project but you can design your database with portable data types, generation directives and then select the target DBMS when you generate or alter your database. By using conditional generation in your database-independent model you can use database specific code in triggers, procedures etc. when that might be necessary. You have complete control over how the portable data types in your database-independent model will be converted to data types of the selected target DBMS. You can map the data types in the new Data type conversion rules editor. Available in Expert edition.

Data Type Mappings Editor When you work with portable data types in a database-independent model or when you switch your model's target DBMS, the data types will be translated to similar data types in the new or selected target DBMS. Use simple data type mappings or define advanced data type conversion rules in the Data type mappings editor. Available in all editions.

New Look with Gradient Diagram Objects Entities, text areas and group boxes now all have a gradient. This gradiency will be turned on by default. You can define the gradient setting for each subdiagram in the Display preferences dialog. Available in all editions.

Improved Alter Script Generation DeZign for Databases V6 comes with a redesigned alter script generator. The new alter script generator fixes some object dependencies issues and generates smaller and more reliable alter scripts. You can now also select which differences you want to move to the database. Available in Expert edition.

Compare Options Get full control over what you want to see as a difference when comparing data models and databases. New compare options enable you to ignore indexes on keys, ignore constraint names (for primary keys, foreign keys etc), ignore descriptions, character sets, collation settings, etc. Available in all editions.

New Generate Database Options New generate database options include ignore primary key constraint names, ignore foreign keys constraint names, check model before generating the database, ignore indexes on primary keys/foreign keys/alternate keys, select a generation directive for conditional generation, etc. You are now also able to select the individual database objects you want to generate. Available in all editions. See it in action

Improved Support for Key Indexes DeZign for Databases now automatically detects indexes on keys when you reverse engineer a database. You can add and rebuild, or delete key indexes in the new Update indexes on keys dialog. Separate name templates for primary key indexes, foreign key indexes and alternate key indexes can be used when adding or updating the key indexes. When you generate your database or compare your data model to a database, you have got the option to ignore indexes on keys. Available in all editions.

More Report Customization Capabilities The Generate reports dialog has been redesigned. New options allow you to select the fonts, colors and elements to include. You can define which elements/properties you want to see in each list of database objects and in the details of the database object. The report title is now user defined and you can define which information you want to see on the front page of the report. You can save your report settings to a reusable DeZign report template. Available in all editions. See it in action

Compare and Update Model Functionality for All Supported Databases DeZign for Databases could already compare and update a model by comparing it to a database for MS Access and SQL databases such as MS SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL and InterBase. In the new version this functionality is also available for desktop databases such as dBase, Paradox, FoxPro and DBISAM. Available in Professional and Expert editions.

Undo-Support Now you can Undo all diagram and database objects related changes. Available in all editions.

This list is not complete. Version 6 contains many more new features and enhancements. You can read the complete list of changes in the version history.

More upgrade details can be found in the DeZign for Databases version comparison document.

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