Editing Diagram

You can make E-R diagram by simple editing such as adding new entities (tables) and connecting them with relationship in eXERD editor.

Tip! Don’t be perplexed for erroneous editing or executing a wrong function. Marvelously, almost all the functions can be undone by clicking Undo ( Ctrl + Z ).

Note! New diagrams are given their name by rules set at Preferences > Naming Rules.

See! "Diagram Shortcuts"

Adding a new Diagram

Menu by right-clicking on the tabs below the diagram editor, click Add.

Note! Short key ctrl+3 can write to search "Add a new diagram".

Adding a new Table

To add a new table, select the button on the toolbar or press shortcut key "3".
The shape of mouse pointer is changed.
Click at the position of the diagram where you want to locate the new table.

Note! The newly made tables belong to the activated schema by default.

See! Specifying Activated Schema, Changing Schema See! Specifying Activated Schema, Changing Schema, Specifying Activated Business Area, Changing Business Area,

Editing a Name

After selecting a target, press F2 key or DOUBLE CLICK it to change into 'edit' mode. The names of all the elements of a diagram – such as tables, columns, etc. – can be edited as follows:

Inline Direct Edit (F2 or DOUBLE CLICK)
Quick Logical/Physical Name Edit( ` or pop-up menu > Rename)

Adding a new column

When a specific table has been selected, you can add columns very fast using shortcut key.

Tip! You can add new columns if press the shortcuts even during editing names.

Adding a Primary Key Column ( Ctrl + Shift + Enter )
Adding a Normal Column ( Ctrl + Enter )
Adding a column by Pop-up Menu

You can connect relationship between tables in a simple way. The way to connect identifying and non-identifying relationship are the same. Therefore, here we explain with the example of non-identifying relationship.

Click Non-identifying Relationship on toolbar or press keyboard shortcut key "4".
Select a parent table with the mouse. When you move the mouse, relationship line is displayed.
Select a child table with the mouse. Reference column is automatically created in the child table.

Tip! When selecting the table itself self-referencing relationship is created.
When selecting the relationship line with the mouse, the icons of ‘parent’ and ‘child’ tables are show and the corresponding columns connected with the relationship are highlighted.

Switching Between Logical and Physical Mode

You can switch between logical/physical modes with the button on toolbar or shortcut "F3"

'L' icon with blue-colored background indicates the diagram is in ‘logical’ mode.
'P' icon with red-colored background indicates that diagram is in ‘physical’ mode.

Adding a Note

You can write necessary explanations by adding notes in a diagram.

After clicking Note on toolbar or pressing shortcut key "6", you can make notes at the desired place.
You can use memo type or balloon tooltip type and change colors at "Theme" of pop-up menu.

Collapsing Tables – Whether or not Display Columns

You can set visibility of the columns in the table.

After selecting the table, choose how to show columns using Pop-up Menu > Column Filter.
If you put cursor on '...' at the bottom of table, the number of hidden columns is shown by tool tip.

You can see all columns only by selecting '...' at the bottom of the table. You don't have to change the setting of visibility of the columns.

Useful Functions

You can do E-R modeling with more ease and convenience by using various functions of eXRED besides basic tips explained above.

You can personalize the display of information of diagram using Diagram Editor Settings
You can highlight specific tables and columns using Highlighting Using Theme and Tag
You can arrange diagrams and tables automatically using Auto Alignment
You don't have to enter physical names again if you make Data Dictionary
You can merge many models written by several people, and share the model among many people using Domain Import/Export