December 2019
Oracle SQL Developer Data Modeler is a free data modeling and design tool used to increase developer productivity by providing the means to develop logical, multi-dimensional, user defined data types, relational and physical data models. The tool provides full forward engineering, including engineering from Logical ERD models to Relational models and the reverse, importing from the Data Dictionary and DDL script generation. The Data Modeler imports from and exports to a variety of sources and targets, provides a variety of formatting options and validates the models through a predefined set of design rules.
Oracle SQL Developer Data Modeler runs on the following operating systems:
The following requirements must be met to install and run correctly:
Note:
Before Installing
If you have worked with the production release of SQL Developer Data Modeler 2.0, then you can save and reuse the default settings you made in the Tools > General Options menu, such as the Default Design Directory and Formatting Options. After installing SQL Developer Data Modeler, you can use the Import/Export function in the Tools > Preferences > Data Modeler menu to export/import the settings.xml file.
JDK 1.8 Requirement
Data Modeler needs to be restarted if "Use Versioning functionality" setting in preferences is changed.
Note: Since version 4.2, Data Modeler doesn't maintain SVN properties thus it's not backward compatible with versions before 4.2 in regards to versioning functionality. It's recommended to use the same version of Data Modeler on all workstations when versioning functionality is used.
Multi-line properties like comments, notes, scripts, PL/SQL code are presented with CDATA section in XML elements. Changed is the way domains are saved and now they are in line with the way other objects are saved - as result there are some changes in formatting of related XML files.
"Mozila Rhino" script engine is not distributed with JVM any more. It's replaced with "Oracle Nashorn" scripting engine. Engine need to be changed in existing scripts. Other JavaScript engines (like "Google V8") also can be used - here is an explanation how to get "Mozila Rhino" engine (js.jar and js-engine.jar) - https://wiki.openjdk.java.net/display/Nashorn/Using+Rhino+JSR-223+engine+with+JDK8.
Predefined RDBMS sites are no longer distributed in file defaultRDBMSSites.xml and will be removed from existing versions of that file.
If you want to open models built in SQL Developer Data Modeler 2.0 and 3.0, you must use "Save As" before you start making changes in the SQL Developer Data Modeler 19.3.
SQL Developer Data Modeler 19.4 can open designs created with 3.1.x version and save them in their original location however further maintenance of such design in Data Modeler 3.1.x version is not recommended due possible lost of information.
"Note" object is no longer represented by separate file in the file system - those files will be deleted upon saving of design.
You can print your diagrams to a number of file formats, including PDF, PNG, JPG.
Custom Unicode font for printing and PDF export can be set in datamodeler.conf and datamodeler64.conf files.
You can export your designs to a reporting repository. Read the online help or the FAQ for more information. There is a brief Oracle by Example tutorial that walks you through creating and accessing the reporting repository and running the reports. Search for "Data Modeler" in the Oracle Learning Library for all tutorials.
Custom reports cannot be exported to RTF.
SQL Developer Data Modeler connects to and imports directly from the Oracle Designer repository.
The following is a list of supported imports from Oracle Designer
To compare two logical models, ensure you have one model open and then select File > Import > Data Modeler Design. You can now select the logical model for the comparison. Once you have made the selection, you are presented with the Compare Merge dialog.
All passwords set in the physical model are encrypted when saving a design in the file system.
The Tools > Preferences >Data Modeler > Model > Relational >Default Foreign Key Delete Rule defines the delete rule when a new FK is created. If you create a model by importing a DDL script, then ensure the option is set as required before the import.
When cloning the physical details from one model to another, ensure you have saved the database you want to clone from. Note you can only clone databases of the same release or lower. i.e. to populate a new Oracle Database 11g physical model, you can select a saved Oracle Database 11g or earlier.
Column property "Default On Null" is moved from physical model for Oracle Database 12c to relational model.
You can add your design to a Subversion repository using a few different approaches; either from within SQL Developer Data Modeler, or by using a separate client.
Adding a Design to a Git Repository
**/*.local
After that design can be added to index and committed to local repository.
IMPORTANT: A design should be fully saved before commit, update and merge operations are done - the same apply for pull and checkout of branch when Git is used. It is recommended to close and reopen the design after update, merge, checkout or pull operations are completed, especially when conflicts are resolved. Do not save design during or after those operations.
For more information on using Subversion with SQL Developer Data Modeler see the Documentation.
SQL Developer Data Modeler allows users to build scripts for user defined design rules and transformations. Object properties are described in "datamodeler/datamodeler/xmlmetadata/doc" directory; use index.html.
The product provides a few samples as illustrations of user defined design rules and transformations. For more information see the Documentation.
From Other Modeling Tools
Oracle SQL Developer Data Modeler imports from:
IMPORTANT: Oracle does not ship the non-Oracle drivers.To access the non-Oracle databases, you need to download and add the drivers required.
To add the required drivers : Go to Tools > Preferences > Data Modeler > Third Party JDBC drivers
SQL Developer Data Modeler is supported through My Oracle Support for all users with an Oracle Database support license.
You can use the documentation in the Oracle SQL Developer Data Modeler Help or access the online documentation.
Visit Oracle SQL Developer Data Modeler on OTN for more information. Use the Oracle SQL Developer Data Modeler Forum for any discussion or queries.