CREATING THE LOGICAL MODEL - A Developer's Guide to Data Modeling for SQL Server - page 156

consistently use a notation standard, no matter which one you actually use.
In our case, the IE standard sufficed and, for us, was a quicker and easier-
to-read notation standard. Most data modeling tools allow you to switch
between notation standards, so once you have some entities and relation-
ships defined, you can try out different notations and see which ones you
like. No matter what you use, be sure that you understand how to read it
and, more importantly, how to describe the notation to others. More on
this later in this chapter.
Modeling Tool
Many data modeling tools are available, everything from industry-standard
tools (such as ERwin Data Modeler from Computer Associates or ER/
Studio from Embarcadero Technologies) to freeware tools. The features
and functionality you need in a modeling tool extend beyond which nota-
tion it supports. Although it's not necessarily a part of the overall design
process for a data model, choosing a data modeling tool can determine
your level of success—and frustration—when it comes to creating a model.
Here, we present a list of features that you should keep an eye out for
when choosing a modeling tool. It is not meant to be an exhaustive list;
rather, it is the list of must-haves for any data modeler to get the job done.
Notation
This is a core requirement. All modeling tools have at least one notational
standard. Ideally, your choice will have more than one, because in some
projects you may find that specific notation standards have already been
implemented. In that case, if your chosen tool offers that standard, you
won't need to purchase another tool. Also, be sure that the tool you choose
has at least IDEF1X, because it is an industry standard and is likely to be
used most often in existing models.
Import/Export
Unfortunately, most modeling tools use a proprietary format. However, the
tool you use should be able to export your models to images and, ideally,
to XML documents. This capability will make the tool interoperable with
a wide range of modeling software and will help you share your model with
other users. Finally, the tool should be able to export its metadata to as
many formats as possible, particularly those used by UML tools.