Schema Modeler (Windows)

Schemas are one of the powerful features of Data Abstract, used to abstract the structure and type of the back-end database away from the code in the client and middle tier. Schema Modeler™ 7 for Windows is a tool for defining and maintaining of Data Abstract schemas. It was created as a replacement for an earlier version of the modeler application, to provide more flexibility and make it easier to add & maintain new Data Abstract features.

Schema Modeler™ has been designed from the ground up to be usable both by developers for implementing the middle (and possibly client) tier, as well as database administrators or architects that only want to define the schemas that later will be coded against by other members of the development team.

It is integrated with the Visual Studio and Delphi IDEs, but can also be used in a number of other ways. For instance it can be run as a standalone by running it from the Windows Start menu, by double-clicking a .daSchema file in Windows Explorer and by clicking on Open in Schema Modeler in the RelativityAdminTool. You also can start Schema Modeler™ with additional options using command line arguments.

Schema Modeler™ is typically used to:

  • Define Connections against the real back-end databases, using any of the many drivers supported by Data Abstract.
  • Browse tables, views and stored procedures available on the back-ends, with Connection Manager.
  • Define Data Tables and other schema objects to expose as part of the schema, via drag and drop from Connection Manager or by manually configuring the tables as desired.
  • Where needed, configure Column Mappings to define how fields from data tables map to differently-named fields in the back-end.
  • Configure mappings of data tables to differently-named tables in the back-end databases, useful when targeting multi-database scenarios.
  • Run and test data tables against various back-ends to see if they are functioning as expected.
  • Define Business Rules scripts for Data Tables, Commands and the whole Schema, using a smart JavaScript editor.

You can find more information on how to do that and more in the following pages:

  • Whats New? provides a look at what is new in version 7 of the Schema Modeler tool.
  • Managing connections takes you through creating, editing and testing Connections in the Connection Manager.
  • Creating new schemas will guide you through the necessary steps to create a new schema from scratch.
  • Managing Tables guides you through creating and editing new schema tables and defining how they map to the uderlying database table. This can be done manually or by importing database objects directly from the Connection Manager.
  • Managing Commands steps you through defining actions that will execute of the database, that can be triggered from a Data Abstract application.
  • Managing Relationships shows you the various ways to create and edit relationships between different tables.
  • Managing Update Rules will take you through defining and editing Update Rules which you use to control the order in which updates to the database will be applied.
  • Managing Union Tables guides you through creating and editing a virtual table, which is a union between one or more other schema tables.
  • Working with Business Rules Scripting explains how to use Business Rules Scripting to create scripts that are executed when certain events occur in the middle-tier like when a request for data is made or on the processing of a delta update.
  • Filtering and Searching shows you how filtering and searching will help you find what you need in Schema Modeler quick and easy.
  • Command-Line arguments defines the command-line arguments that can be supplied to Schema Modeler to shortcut certain actions.

See Also