Generate an ER diagram for entire database and export it in HTML / XML format

• Pingpong22

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  February 19, 2022 at 4:39 pm

  #3985837

  Hello,

  Before explaining what I'm looking for, I will explain the reason(s) for this question. In a business environment, we work with a fairly large database (around 300 tables and views together) which grew 'organically' over time. Meaning, there is little structure, consistency and clarity where tables and views are used, how much relations they have with other entities and how entities are stacked / built upon each other. Only through looking directly at the queries and SQL code for some tables its purpose and usage becomes apparent. Also there is a dependency viewer in SSMS, however this visualizes only per one table, or per one view, not the entire database.

  For the reason mentioned above, namely the lack of structure and effectiveness , we are looking to redesign the database structure. We have a clear picture which tables and views are used directly by external sources (data visualization tools), so that is a first step. However, on the internal workings and dependencies of entities we have less (read almost none) visibility. Unless we look at the SQL code itself.

  So we are looking for a way to show/visualize all the interdependencies to and from views and tables (preferably in a diagram) to make clear which tables / views are crucial, which are less important and even which tables / views might not be used at all.

  Is there a way to do this? We are working with SSMS 18.10. I've searched many forums and read documentation, but none seem know how this can be done directly in SSMS. The best possibility I could find was with third party software, but we are looking to do this directly in without any other tools. Either through a script or through a built in functionality in SSMS.

  Any help is great appreciated.

• Site Owners

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  February 20, 2022 at 5:10 pm

  #3986087

  Thanks for posting your issue and hopefully someone will answer soon.

  This is an automated bump to increase visibility of your question.