Entity Relationship Diagram utility

The Entity Relationship Diagram utility presents entity relationships for selected files and fields in your database in interactive diagrams (called Entity Relationship Diagrams or ERDs) so that you can have a clear picture of your entity relationships and identify the impact of potential data changes. Additionally, the utility can export the diagrams to static PDF format for offline use.

Search for	Example	Results
A single word	`cat`	Topics that contain the word "cat". You will also find its grammatical variations, such as "cats".
A phrase. You can specify that the search results contain a specific phrase.	`"cat food"` (quotation marks)	Topics that contain the literal phrase "cat food" and all its grammatical variations. Without the quotation marks, the query is equivalent to specifying an OR operator, which finds topics with one of the individual words instead of the phrase.

Search for	Operator	Example
Two or more words in the same topic	`AND` `and` `+` (plus symbol) `&` (ampersand)	`cat AND dog` `"cat food"+milk` `"cat food"&"dog food"`
Either word in a topic	`OR` `or` `\|` (pipe)	`cat OR dog` `cat \| dog`
Topics that do not contain a specific word or phrase	`NOT` `not` `!` (exclamation point)	`NOT cat` `! dog`
Topics that contain one string and do not contain another	`^` (caret)	`cat ^ mouse`
A combination of search types	`( )` parentheses	`cat + (dog \| mouse)` `cat \| dog + (! mouse)`

The utility processes only entity relationships that have a Definition Type of link, erddef, or manual.

This functionality is available only from the web client.
To use this utility, you must have the SysAdmin capability word.
Screen readers are not supported for entity relationship diagrams generated by this utility.
The accuracy of relationships in the diagrams depends on the correctness of the relevant link and erddef records.

Entity Relationship Diagram interface

The following figure shows the Entity Relationship Diagram interface.

The following table explains different parts of the interface.

Number	Name	Description
1	Table name input box	Enter the name of a table for which you want to generate an ERD, and then click the magnifying glass icon. For details, see Generate an entity relationship diagram for a file.
2	Table list	This is a list of tables, including the current table and all its related tables. The current table is identified by a crown icon before its name (for example, dept).
3	Field or relationship list	Initially, this area lists all fields of the current table. However, if you select a field of the current table in area 4, this area switches to a list of relationship records of the selected field.
4	Current table and its fields	In the ERD, the current table is highlighted with a green border. Felds that are the unique key of a table have a key icon before their names.
5	View tabs	These two tables allow you to switch the diagram between two views: Logical: This view displays the tables and fields using their names defined in the DBDICT records. Physical: This view displays the tables and fields using their SQL Tables (for tables) and SQL Names (for fields) defined in the DBDICT records. By default, the Logical view is displayed.
6	Filter box	This box enables you to select filters to further filter information in the diagram. All: Shows all of the relationships between the current table and other tables. By default, all diagrams are displayed using this filter. Link > As Source: Shows only those relationships between the current table and other tables where the Definition Type is link and the Source Table is the current table. Link > As Target: Shows only those relationships between the current table and other tables where the Definition Type is link and the Target Table is the current table. ERDDef: Shows only those relationships between the current table and other tables where the Definition Type is erddef. Manual: Shows only those relationships between the current table and other tables where the Definition Type is manual.
7	Related tables and fields	This area displays all related tables and fields of the current table.

Number

Name

Description

Table name input box

Enter the name of a table for which you want to generate an ERD, and then click the magnifying glass icon. For details, see Generate an entity relationship diagram for a file.

Table list

This is a list of tables, including the current table and all its related tables. The current table is identified by a crown icon before its name (for example, dept).

Field or relationship list

Initially, this area lists all fields of the current table. However, if you select a field of the current table in area 4, this area switches to a list of relationship records of the selected field.

Current table and its fields

In the ERD, the current table is highlighted with a green border. Felds that are the unique key of a table have a key icon before their names.

View tabs

These two tables allow you to switch the diagram between two views:

Logical: This view displays the tables and fields using their names defined in the DBDICT records.
Physical: This view displays the tables and fields using their SQL Tables (for tables) and SQL Names (for fields) defined in the DBDICT records.

By default, the Logical view is displayed.

Filter box

This box enables you to select filters to further filter information in the diagram.

All: Shows all of the relationships between the current table and other tables. By default, all diagrams are displayed using this filter.
Link > As Source: Shows only those relationships between the current table and other tables where the Definition Type is link and the Source Table is the current table.
Link > As Target: Shows only those relationships between the current table and other tables where the Definition Type is link and the Target Table is the current table.
ERDDef: Shows only those relationships between the current table and other tables where the Definition Type is erddef.
Manual: Shows only those relationships between the current table and other tables where the Definition Type is manual.

Related tables and fields

This area displays all related tables and fields of the current table.

Dynamic display

When you select another table or field in the diagram, the diagram is reloaded automatically. For details, see View relationships of a specific field in an entity relationship diagram.

Toolbar

The Entity Relationship Diagram interface also provides a toolbar, which allows you to interact with the diagram using the tools on it. For more information, see Interact with an entity relationship diagram.

Related tasks

Connect

Micro Focus Marketplace

ITSM Blog for IT Service Management

ITSM Community

Documentation Forum

Learn

Software Support Online

Software Support Downloads

Software Education Services

Contact

Send Help Center feedback

Submit Service Request

View Service Requests