CA ERwin Data Modeler is a software

Computer software

Computer software, or just software, is a collection of computer programs and related data that provide the instructions for telling a computer what to do and how to do it....

 tool for data modeling

Data modeling

Data modeling in software engineering is the process of creating a data model for an information system by applying formal data modeling techniques.- Overview :...

 (data requirements analysis

Requirements analysis

Requirements analysis in systems engineering and software engineering, encompasses those tasks that go into determining the needs or conditions to meet for a new or altered product, taking account of the possibly conflicting requirements of the various stakeholders, such as beneficiaries or users...

, database design

Database design

Database design is the process of producing a detailed data model of a database. This logical data model contains all the needed logical and physical design choices and physical storage parameters needed to generate a design in a Data Definition Language, which can then be used to create a database...

 etc) of custom developed information systems

Information systems

Information Systems is an academic/professional discipline bridging the business field and the well-defined computer science field that is evolving toward a new scientific area of study...

, including databases of transactional systems and data mart

Data mart

A data mart is the access layer of the data warehouse environment that is used to get data out to the users. The data mart is a subset of the data warehouse which is usually oriented to a specific business line or team.- Terminology :...

s. ERwin's data modeling engine is based upon the IDEF1X

IDEF1X

IDEF1X is a data modeling language for the developing of semantic data models. IDEF1X is used to produce a graphical information model which represents the structure and semantics of information within an environment or system.IDEF1X permits the construction of semantic data models which may serve...

 method, although it now supports diagrams displayed with information engineering

Information engineering

Information engineering or information engineering methodology in software engineering is an approach to designing and developing information systems.-Overview:...

 notation as well.

History

ERwin was created by Logic Works

Logic Works

Logic Works Inc. was a software company based in Princeton, New Jersey. Their flagship product was an IDEF1X modeling and database design toolcalled ERwin whose name is formed from an initialism of ER for Entity Relationship and "win", short for windows...

. It was acquired in 1998 by Platinum Technology

Platinum Technology

Platinum Technology Inc. was founded by Andrew Filipowski in 1987 to market and support deployment of database management software products and the applications enabled by database management technology and render related services...

, which was later acquired in May 1999 by Computer Associates, who added it to their AllFusion suite under the name AllFusion ERwin Data Modeler. The tool was later renamed to CA ERwin Model Manager.

Logic Works' companion products include BPwin – an IDEF0

IDEF0

IDEF0 is a function modeling methodology for describing manufacturing functions, which offers a functional modeling language for the analysis, development, reengineering, and integration of information systems; business processes; or software engineering analysis.IDEF0 is part of the IDEF family...

 process modeling tool – and ModelMart – to support the collaborative development of both data and process models.

Distinguishing features

• Logical Data Modeling: Purely logical models may be created, from which physical models may be derived. Combinations of logical and physical models are also supported. Supports entity-type and attribute logical names and descriptions, logical domains and data types, as well as relationship naming.
• Physical Data Modeling: Purely physical models may be created as well as combinations of logical and physical models. Supports the naming and description of tables and columns, user defined data types, primary keys, foreign keys, alternative keys and the naming and definition of constraints. Support for indexes, views, stored procedures and triggers is also included.
• Logical-to-Physical Transformation: Includes an abbreviation/naming dictionary called "Naming Standards Editor" and a logical-to-RDBMS data type mapping facility called "Datatype Standards Editor", both of which are customizable with entries and basic rule enforcement.
• Forward engineering: Once the database designer is satisfied with the physical model, the tool can automically generate a SQL
  SQL
  SQL is a programming language designed for managing data in relational database management systems ....
  
   Data Definition Language
  Data Definition Language
  A data definition language or data description language is a syntax similar to a computer programming language for defining data structures, especially database schemas.-History:...
  
   (DDL) script that can either be directly executed on the RDBMS environment or saved to a file.
• Reverse engineering: If an analyst needs to examine and understand an existing data structure, ERwin will depict the physical database objects in an ERwin model file.
• Model-to-model comparison: The "Complete/Compare" facility allows an analyst or designer to view the differences between two model files (including real-time reverse-engineered files), for instance to understand changes between two versions of a model.
• An "Undo" feature is available in version 7.

Competitors

Competitors include Embarcadero ER/Studio

ER/Studio

ER/Studio is data architecture and database design software developed by Embarcadero Technologies. It works across multiple database platforms and is used by data architects, data modelers, database administrators and business analysts to create and manage database designs, document and reuse data...

, ModelRight

ModelRight

ModelRight is a database design and data modeling tool developed by ModelRight Inc. It is used by data modelers, database developers and database architects to create, visualize, and document their databases as an Entity Relationship Diagram .-Features:...

, DeZign for Databases

DeZign for Databases

DeZign for Databases is a database design and data modeling tool for multiple database platforms . It can be used to create, maintain and document new or existing database systems. The tool uses Entity-relationship diagram...

, Oracle Designer

Oracle Designer

Oracle Designer is Oracle's CASE tool for designing an information system and generating it. After generating the information system one is able to edit the generated code with Oracle Developer Suite-Components of Oracle Designer:Business Process Modelling...

, Oracle SQL Developer Data Modeler, Sybase

Sybase

Sybase, an SAP company, is an enterprise software and services company offering software to manage, analyze, and mobilize information, using relational databases, analytics and data warehousing solutions and mobile applications development platforms....

 PowerDesigner

PowerDesigner

PowerDesigner is a collaborative enterprise modelling tool produced by Sybase. PowerDesigner runs under Microsoft Windows as a native application, and runs under Eclipse through a plugin. PowerDesigner supports model-driven architecture software design. PowerDesigner uses the .pdm file...

 and IBM

IBM

International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...

Data Architect.

Associated products

• CA ERwin Model Validator
• ERwin Data Profiler (Exeros)
• Saphir ERP metadata analysis tool

External links

• CA ERwin Data Modeler on ca.com.