Using EA with SQL Server

[npatel]

I am look for modeling tool that will allow me to retrieve tables from sql server, send modifications of tables back to sql server, be able to keep description on field and tables in modeling tool, and also be able to retrieve stored procedures.   Is EA the tool for this kind of job?

thanks
Nick

[AdamHearn]

If you mean you'd like to model your SQL Server database using a tool then yes, EA is a good tool to use. It can generate DDL and can reverse engineer a schema into the model.

[npatel]

Thanks for answering back.  I was looking at EA comparatively with xcase, ER/Studio and ERWin.  EA seem definitely cheaper than others, but functionality wise should it be the same?

thanks
Nick

[JourneymanDave]

Npatel, EA is a great UML tool for overall systems design.  However, if your requirements are SPECIFIC to databases, I'd actually recommend another tool, which I'll probably take some heat for  

Chek out Datanamic DeZign for Databases  http://www.datanamic.com, and their ImportER tools.

Like EA, this is a low-cost/high-value tool.  Unlike EA though, which is constrained to using stereotyped UML to represent data schemas, the Datanamic tools use traditional ER notation, more like ERWin and ER/Studio.  It also, being a database-specific tool, supports much more functionality in terms of documenting and validating database schemas.  I believe it goes a step beyond EA also in providing more robust functionality when addressing differences in physical design, stored procs, views, etc.

Weight your options honestly, do you want a great general-purpose tool (EA) or a great data modelling-specific tool (DeZign).  Hard to go wrong with either, so I've bought them both  

[npatel]

Thanks for you honest opinion.  I looked at EA and I was completely overwhelmed.  It has so many features and If I wasn't a novice, I would probably have more appreciation for what it does.  Let me check out you recommended data modeling tool.  Do you have any other data modeling tools to recommend?  Again thank you for your insight.

Npatel

[JourneymanDave]

I like ERWin very much also.  It is more well-integrated than most other tools I've used, and seems to be the benchmark for integration when you import files of one type or another (like Rose used to be for modeling tools).

However, for the extra $2000 ERWin would cost me, I'm happy to save that money and invest in other tools like EA and DeZign.