Can anyone suggest a good Data Modelling Tool/ Data modeler that natively supports multiple databases?

Question

Could you recommend me a good and affordable db modeling tool for Windows?

It'll be mainly used for the two major open source databases: MySQL and PostgreSQL and the two most popular commercial databases: Oracle and SQL Server. I hope all these databases can be connected natively and simultaneously within a single application. It'll be great if it would have an intuitive GUI. .

Solution 1

I recently looked at DbSchema which looked very good.

I also looked at DbWrench which has a similar feature set and price but was a lot slower when dealing with large models (> 250 tables)

We finally ended up purchasing Toad Data Modeler (TDM) because support for database specific features is a bit better there and it's scripting ability allowed us to generate other export formats as well

See splash's answer for a link to a "free" version - it will expire in November 2012 so it's not really free. I don't know if there will be a new offer after that.

If you need a tool that runs on other platforms as well (TDM is Windows only) DbSchema seems to be good choice. It's auto-layout algorithm looked far better than TDM's

Solution 2

I have used MySQL Workbench which is cross platform. And it can be run from portable devices also. This can be used only with MySQL.

Comments

[splash]

Relating to Toad Data Modeler Freeware: "the expiration period extends further every time a new free version is released" (modeling.inside.quest.com/…)

[a_horse_with_no_name]

@splash: thanks, I didn't see that comment ;)

[Vasilis Lourdas]

MySQL Workbench is a solution, but it tends to be extremely buggy. And the situation does not get any better version after version. I hoped v.6 would have been better, but it is also annoying as previous versions. It is not for serious work, bugs arise from anywhere. The big plus is that it's a native Linux application (not Java based).