Reverse engineering a SQL 2005 database w/ Visio '07 no relationsh

[Generator]

I support a product that runs on SQL Server 2005. I'm called on to
modify/correct transaction data and hoped that I could "map" the database
using Visio 2007's Reverse Engineer Database function. Knowledge of all the
tables connected to a transaction would go a long way toward keeping me out
of trouble.

I was able to create a visio drawing showing all the tables and views in the
database but was disappointed to see that no "relationships" between the
tables were illustrated. Diagrams of the tables are nice, but without info
on the related fields which connect the tables, the benefits are limited.

Am I asking for the impossible here? Or have I just not found the right way
to generate the results I'm looking for?

Any feedback would be welcomed.

If Visio 2007 can't produce it can any tool be suggested?

Respectfully

 

[Barb Way]

One thing to note is that not all Databases are kept in sync using
Relationships. I have seen large systems with no Relationships at all,
where the database tables are managed purely with Triggers and other code
which maintain the integrity of the data. So it is possible that there are
no actual relationships to see. Are you seeing Primary Keys and Foreign
Keys in the table images when you place them on the page? Check the Output
log from the Reverse Engineering process to see what objects are listed -
do you see PK and FK objects listed?

Another thing to know is that our solution creates a list ot Tables and
Views, but does not create a list of Relationships. When you drag 2 or
more tables from the 'Tables and Views' window on the Visio drawing page,
any existing relationships will be automatically drawn. If you are not
seeing these being created, they are not in the model, or the modeling
solution is not behaving properly. Also, if you right click on a table,
one option is 'Show Related Tables'. If the relationships exist, this will
also force them to be drawn. In fact, if you drag out one table which has
defined relationsips, and use this action - the tables that are related but
not yet on the page will be added for you.

To test the solution - try Reverse Engineering from a known sample
database, like AdvWorks or even the Access Northwind database. These both
have tables with relationships, and will let you test your system quickly.
Also, verify that the Visio installation has all the normal Automation
Events running and VBA enabled.


Barb Way
Product Support - Visio
Microsoft Corporation
[This posting is provided "As Is" with no warranties, and confers no
rights.]
--------------------
Thread-Topic: Reverse engineering a SQL 2005 database w/ Visio '07 no
relationsh
From: <[email protected]>
Subject: Reverse engineering a SQL 2005 database w/ Visio '07 no relationsh
Date: Mon, 19 May 2008 16:06:01 -0700

I support a product that runs on SQL Server 2005. I'm called on to
modify/correct transaction data and hoped that I could "map" the database
using Visio 2007's Reverse Engineer Database function. Knowledge of all
the
tables connected to a transaction would go a long way toward keeping me out
of trouble.

I was able to create a visio drawing showing all the tables and views in
the
database but was disappointed to see that no "relationships" between the
tables were illustrated. Diagrams of the tables are nice, but without info
on the related fields which connect the tables, the benefits are limited.

Am I asking for the impossible here? Or have I just not found the right
way
to generate the results I'm looking for?

Any feedback would be welcomed.

If Visio 2007 can't produce it can any tool be suggested?

Respectfully