smittyoneeach's Journal: SQL Server ERD

I've signed on to take over a smallish .Net/SQL Server project.
Bought the MSDN Universal, so I'm running the good stuff.
Stunningly, there is no easy way to produce a database ERD anymore. I guess I could install an older Visio.
The real reason seems to be these capitalist swine want me to buy still more little tools.
Well, up that noise. Generate the DDL scripts via SQL Server, pull it into Emacs, massage the DDL so that it will work as Jet DDL within Access, and create a shell database for diagrams.
Bunch of jerks.

Whatever you do, ...

[Bill Dog]

... don't use Google to see what SQL Server DBA's use for data modeling. Definitely more productive to stick to your contortions, as a protest to MS for wanting you to support the greater good of capitalism by buying a 3rd party tool.

Re:

[smittyoneeach]

It was even easier. I set up an ODBC DSN, linked to the tables in MS Access, which conveniently supports grouping objects, and made four diagrams using Access's relationship view. Table details available via the documenter tool.

Re:

[Bill Dog]

ODBC DSN [...] MS Access

The 1990's called...

I'd be suprised if modern Windows systems even support the former, but I see (and am shocked, and horrified) that Office 2016 actually still includes Access/that there'll even be an Access 2016. I don't get it; why retire VB, but not Access.

Good news smitty: I think Visual Foxpro is still available to download on MSDN. You might even still be able to find a copy of Clipper for DOS somewheres.

Note to myself: Why would I expect anything other than the technological stone age from Slashdo

Re:

[smittyoneeach]

I don't get it; why retire VB, but not Access

Visceral Baysuck was retired. VBA lives on [microsoft.com], in an eternal quest for brainz.

Good news smitty: I think Visual Foxpro is still available to download on MSDN.

See now, that there is just a common dog. Can't we get along?

UNIX, with its coarse-grained security

Because complexity is always such a big win. I figure when OpenBSD abandons the UNIX model, something better may have arrived.

Re:

[Bill Dog]

I imagine businesses consider Group Policy and Active Directory a pretty big improvement over the 1970's read, write, and execute for user, group, and other.

Re:

[smittyoneeach]

LDAP is related to, but not the same as, your file modes.

Re:

[Marxist Hacker 42]

Well, for that matter, the Database Diagrams in SQL Server seems to work quite well, at least to that extent.

The problem is discovery on a SQL Server containing more than say, 200 tables.