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Bonus TIPS for Successful Posting

Try a Search First
It is highly recommended that a Search be done on your topic before posting, as many questions have been answered in prior posts. As with any search engine, the shorter the search term, the more "hits" will be returned, but the more specific the search term is, the greater the relevance of those "hits". Searching for "table" might well return every message on the board while "tablesum" would greatly restrict the number of messages returned.

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Software for Designing the Database

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    #1

    Software for Designing the Database

    I have dabbled with AlphaFive for a couple of years now. My strength is not as a programmer, (mediocre at best), but as a designer. I am going to tackle a more complex project and I have searched without avail for tools that can help me in the structuring of the tables and designing the interface before coding starts. There seems to be programs out there that have some of the features I want, but they are designed for SQL platforms. I have used the ER diagramming in Visio, but that really doesn't connect for me. I'd appreciate any leads on tools that help you in the database development process.
    Tags: None
    #2
    RE: Software for Designing the Database

    Cameron,

    I recommend a yellow pad. I'm not being facetious. Unless you have a huge project the design software is more trouble than it is worth. It also can insulate you from a deep understanding of what you are doing.

    Where I work we have a single license for a very powerful design tool--costs thousands of dollars. I used it once and reverted to paper.

    Bill
    Bill Hanigsberg

    Comment

      #3
      RE: Software for Designing the Database

      Bill, it's funny that you suggest this because that is the direction I've taken. I bought a book on paper prototyping and it has been the most helpful. I guess I was hoping that there was a software package out there that would do the same on the screen. Thanks for the input.

      Comment

        #4
        RE: Software for Designing the Database

        I read that book. Paper has much to recommend it!
        Bill
        Bill Hanigsberg

        Comment

          #5
          RE: Software for Designing the Database

          Cameron,

          Try this link: http://msgboard.alphasoftware.com/alphaphorum/read.php3?sortby=lastreply&direction=desc&num=11&id=54327&thread=20351#MSG20351

          It is a messageboard topic created a year or so ago that display lots and lots of developer and user designs. It is not meant as a tutorial, but for those developers like myself that are artistically challenged, it is a great visual of what 'looks good' and what doesn't.

          Hope it helps.

          Dave
          Dave Jampole
          www.customalpha.com

          Women and cats will do whatever they want. The sooner men and dogs realize that, the happier they will be.

          Comment

            #6
            RE: Software for Designing the Database

            The drawing toolbar in Excel is a handy alternative to paper. Draw textboxes to represent tables �enter the table name and index keys. Use the Auto shape connectors to represent the relationships. They connect to the text boxes, so as you drag and drop the textboxes and the auto shape connectors adjust automatically. This feature makes it easy to adjust your diagram.

            Comment

              #7
              RE: Software for Designing the Database

              Visio is also a perfect tool for this type of thing.
              Aaron Brown
              Alpha Software Development Team

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                #8
                RE: Software for Designing the Database

                Thanks for the input.

                Comment

                  #9
                  RE: Software for Designing the Database

                  Thanks for replying.

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