Database Schema Documentation Tool?

2 Dec 2006 3:52 AM

Greg Hess

I am looking for a database documentation tool/script that I can run against
a particular database to generate a document of all the tables, columns, and
relationships in the database. I have seen a data dictionary that lists the
table names with links to the table details further down the document, and
clicking on the relationships jumps you to that table in the document. That
particular one was generated out of the programming revision control system
they were using into xml and xsl files. I am looking for something that can
generate the information out of the metadata in SQL Server.

Thanks

2 Dec 2006 6:22 AM

Aaron Bertrand [SQL Server MVP]

I think you may be thinking of Enterprise Architect
http://www.sparxsystems.com.au/

Or ER/Studio
http://www.embarcadero.com/products/erstudio/index.html

Show quote

"Greg Hess" <kead***@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:uiaR8UcFHHA.1252@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>I am looking for a database documentation tool/script that I can run
>against a particular database to generate a document of all the tables,
>columns, and relationships in the database. I have seen a data dictionary
>that lists the table names with links to the table details further down the
>document, and clicking on the relationships jumps you to that table in the
>document. That particular one was generated out of the programming
>revision control system they were using into xml and xsl files. I am
>looking for something that can generate the information out of the metadata
>in SQL Server.
>
> Thanks
>
>

2 Dec 2006 7:34 AM

Arnie Rowland

Look at ApexSQL Doc from www.ApexSQL.com

--
Arnie Rowland, Ph.D.
Westwood Consulting, Inc

Most good judgment comes from experience.
Most experience comes from bad judgment.
- Anonymous

You can't help someone get up a hill without getting a little closer to the
top yourself.
- H. Norman Schwarzkopf

Show quote

"Greg Hess" <kead***@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:uiaR8UcFHHA.1252@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>I am looking for a database documentation tool/script that I can run
>against a particular database to generate a document of all the tables,
>columns, and relationships in the database. I have seen a data dictionary
>that lists the table names with links to the table details further down the
>document, and clicking on the relationships jumps you to that table in the
>document. That particular one was generated out of the programming
>revision control system they were using into xml and xsl files. I am
>looking for something that can generate the information out of the metadata
>in SQL Server.
>
> Thanks
>

2 Dec 2006 7:05 PM

Hari Prasad

I love ApexSQL . See the details from below URL:-

http://www.sql-server-performance.com/apex_sql_doc_spotlight.asp
http://www.apexsql.com/sql_tools_doc.asp

You could try the trial version and use it for a month:-

http://www.apexsql.com/downloads.asp

Thanks
Hari

Show quote

"Arnie Rowland" <ar***@1568.com> wrote in message
news:OyNRBReFHHA.4712@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> Look at ApexSQL Doc from www.ApexSQL.com
>
> --
> Arnie Rowland, Ph.D.
> Westwood Consulting, Inc
>
> Most good judgment comes from experience.
> Most experience comes from bad judgment.
> - Anonymous
>
> You can't help someone get up a hill without getting a little closer to
> the top yourself.
> - H. Norman Schwarzkopf
>
>
> "Greg Hess" <kead***@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:uiaR8UcFHHA.1252@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>I am looking for a database documentation tool/script that I can run
>>against a particular database to generate a document of all the tables,
>>columns, and relationships in the database. I have seen a data dictionary
>>that lists the table names with links to the table details further down
>>the document, and clicking on the relationships jumps you to that table in
>>the document. That particular one was generated out of the programming
>>revision control system they were using into xml and xsl files. I am
>>looking for something that can generate the information out of the
>>metadata in SQL Server.
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>
>

3 Dec 2006 1:11 PM

Nadreck

Another effective but much less costly option if you only want
documentation is
SqlSpec from ElsaSoft

Their website at www.elsasoft.org has a trial version and also samples
of the output

T

5 Dec 2006 1:31 PM

rbedick

Greg Hess wrote:

> I am looking for a database documentation tool/script that I can run against
> a particular database to generate a document of all the tables, columns, and
> relationships in the database. I have seen a data dictionary that lists the
> table names with links to the table details further down the document, and
> clicking on the relationships jumps you to that table in the document. That
> particular one was generated out of the programming revision control system
> they were using into xml and xsl files. I am looking for something that can
> generate the information out of the metadata in SQL Server.
>
> Thanks

You might want to try SchemaToDoc for SQL Server
(http://www.schematodoc.com). It exports to a Word doc metadata info
such as primary keys, field info (types, size, nullable, defaults),
indexes, check constraints, foreign key constraints, triggers, views,
stored procedures, and extended properties. It also lets you annotate
your tables and fields and include those comments in the Word doc. An
Enterprise edition can create a series of linked HTML files in addition
to the Word output.

28 Dec 2006 1:16 AM

Greg Hess

Thank you for all your suggestions. After evaluating them I have decided to
go with SqlSpec from Elsasoft (http://www.elsasoft.org/). It does exactly
what I need it to do for a good price.