Generating entity relationship diagram in Visual Studio 2015

Question

Can you tell me how I can generate an ER diagram for my database1 (see below) created with VS 2015

Thanks in advance

I have outlined the steps on how to create the `Entity Relationship Diagram` with visual studio from your existing database in an answer below. Let me know if it solves your problem — Chidi Ekuma, Mar 09 '17 at 16:28

score 24 · Answer 1 · answered Feb 27 '17 at 15:43

Ensure you installed either Microsoft SQL Server Data Tools or Microsoft Web Developer Tools in order to get the Entity Data Model Designer.

These are the steps to generate entity relationship diagram. It was tested in VS2012

Open Visual Studio
Create a project or open an existing project (must be Visual Basic, Visual C# project, or Console Application)
Right-click the project and choose Add -> New Item…
Under Visual C# Items select “Data”
Select the template “ADO.NET Entity Data Model”
Give it a name and click “Add”
Select “Generate from database” or “Empty model”
If “Generate from database” selected enter connection info, choose the database objects and done!

The model is stored as a “.edmx” file.

Simple, concise. This works perfectly for me. Not only do you get an ER diagram, but if you just create a new project you also have all the POCOs. — Quantium, May 17 '17 at 22:01

Ghaag · Answer 2 · 2017-01-23T10:51:24.297

1

With Visual Studio you can create a static diagram (class diagram) but not entity relationship diagrams (for you DB). You will have to use another tool for this. For SQL server you can use SQL server Management Studio.

edited Jan 23 '17 at 10:51

answered Jun 27 '16 at 15:08

Ghaag

1

SQL Server Management Studio 2016 doesn't have this feature anymore. – Quantium May 17 '17 at 22:02
1

I am using SQL Server Management Studio v17.9 and it has the option to create database diagrams. – Frogger Jan 28 '20 at 20:05
1

SSMS 18.x also has diagramming: `Object Explorer > YourDB > Database Diagrams > New Diagram` – FoggyDay Feb 13 '20 at 20:24

score -4 · Accepted Answer · answered Apr 10 '16 at 16:21

-4

DB Objects in the editor will be related as in Diagram so Just relate objects in the Db and drag to editor.

answered Apr 10 '16 at 16:21

Shukri Gashi

I can't find what you say – xAminex Apr 10 '16 at 21:35
No Body has a clue ? :( – xAminex Apr 12 '16 at 08:08
OK. You should do relations between tables on SQL . Then when you drag tables on the visual studio editor , editor will display relations visualy same as in diagrams on SQL editor. – Shukri Gashi Apr 12 '16 at 09:23
thanks you @shukri gashi for your answer. I did the relations between tables on SQL, but I don't have such thing called "the visual studio editor " – xAminex Apr 12 '16 at 09:36

3 Answers3