E-R Diagrams
Complexity of databases increases day by day, due to this the Entity relationship models and E-R diagrams become more and more popular, and now are an important part of database design. E-R diagrams allow visually and graphically represent structure and design of databases.
You can use so popular Chen's notation to represent all components of database and their relationships on the ER diagram. This notation was developed and implemented by Peter Chen in 1976. The main components of the E-R diagrams are:
- entities,
- attributes that describe these entities,
- relationships among these entities that describe associations between the data,
- cardinalities that describe the number of relationship participants: one-to-many (1:M), many-to-many (M:N), and one-to-one (1:1).
In a Chen's notation, entities are represented by rectangles on the diagram with the entity names written inside and relationships are represented by diamonds. Another popular type of E-R diagrams is known as Crow's Foot notation that is derived from the Chen's notation.

Example 1. E-R Diagram - Students and teachers
Use of ConceptDraw DIAGRAM for professional ERD drawing includes using the predesigned components of ER diagram, such as entity relationship symbols, work flow shapes, entity relationship stencils. All they are provided for easy use by 2 libraries of Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD) Solution from the Software Development Area for ConceptDraw Solution Park.

Example 2. ERD Libraries
There is also wide collection of predesigned E-R Diagrams which is represented at ConceptDraw STORE. All E-R Diagrams samples and templates are well thought-out, professionally designed, can be easy changed according to your needs and further successfully used.
Example 3. E-R Diagrams in ConceptDraw DIAGRAM
The following features make ConceptDraw DIAGRAM extended with the Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD) solution the most effective E-R diagrams design software:
- You don't need to be an artist to draw professional looking diagrams in a few minutes.
- Large quantity of ready-to-use vector objects makes drawing your diagrams quick and easy.
- Extensive collection of pre-designed templates and samples give you a great start for your own diagrams.
- ConceptDraw DIAGRAM provides you with the possibility to use the grid, rules and guides. You can easily rotate, group, align, and arrange objects, and use different fonts and colors to make your diagram stand out.
- All ConceptDraw DIAGRAM documents are vector graphic files and are available for reviewing, modifying, and converting to a variety of formats: image, HTML, PDF file, MS PowerPoint Presentation, Adobe Flash, MS Visio.
- Using ConceptDraw STORE you can navigate through ConceptDraw Solution Park, managing downloads and updates. You can access libraries, templates and samples directly from ConceptDraw STORE.
- If you have any questions, our support is free of charge and always ready to come to your aid.
TEN RELATED HOW TO's:
Use Case Diagrams technology. IDEF1x standard - for work with relational data bases. IDEF1x standard is meant for constructing of conceptual schemes which represent the structure of data in the context of the concerned system, for example, a commercial organization.
Picture: IDEF1X Standard
Sometimes, when it is difficult to create a functional space plan or to rearrange existing one, the art of interior design comes in. It doesn't matter, if you need a cozy bedroom or an office layout plan, you should use appropriate tools to make your design great.
While making a floor plan of a new office it could be useful to apply some design elements such as furniture and office equipment. This diagram presents an office furniture objects that can be used for office interior design planning, or making office furniture and equipment layouts. This vector stencils library is supplied with ConceptDraw Office Layout Plans solution. It contains more then 30 vector objects of office interior for making office floor plans including an office space layout plans and furniture arrangement.
Picture: Interior Design. Office Layout Plan Design Element
Related Solution:
ERD drawing becomes easier with predesigned entity relationship symbols, work flow shapes, entity relationship stencils. All variety of ERD symbols you may need for ERDs design is packed into libraries and templates from Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD) Solution for ConceptDraw DIAGRAM diagramming and vector drawing software.
But anyone have an ERD symbols quick reference? Detailed reference information for them is represented at the tables.
Picture: Anyone Have an ERD Symbols Quick Reference?
Related Solution:
Since the most applications keep their data in databases, the database design and database modeling play highly important role during the process of applications development. The ConceptDraw DIAGRAM software enhanced with EXPRESS-G data Modeling Diagram solution perfectly suits for construction the database models and designing the Database model diagram using EXPRESS-G notation, for representing the data structures required to design and create the databases permitting to retrieve and write data quickly.
Picture: Database Model Diagram
Related Solution:
Process Flow Charts are very popular and widely used in chemical and process engineering for representation a general flow of plant processes and equipment. If you need often draw them, the ConceptDraw DIAGRAM diagramming and vector drawing software extended with tools of Flowcharts Solution will be useful for you.
The mostly used set of process flow chart symbols includes the following: Rectangle (box) process flow chart symbol, Rounded rectangle, Circle, Diamond.
Picture: Process Flow Chart Symbol
Related Solution:
Jackson System Development (JSD) is a linear method of system development created by Michael A. Jackson and John Cameron in the 1980s. It comprises the whole software life cycle directly or providing a framework for more specialized techniques.
When implementing the Jackson System Development method and designing JSD diagrams, you can succesfully use the powerful and helpful tools of ConceptDraw DIAGRAM software extended with Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD) solution from the Software Development area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.
Picture: JSD - Jackson system development
Related Solution:
ConceptDraw DIAGRAM is a best business processes modeling software for graphical documenting processes of the company.
Picture: Business Process Modeling Resume
This method of problem analysis is widely used in IT, manufacture industries and chemical engineering. If you want to take a fresh look on your problem, you can draw a fishbone diagram with ConceptDraw DIAGRAM software, which supports both MAC OS and Windows. You can see and download fishbone diagram samples and templates in ConceptDraw Solution Park.
This Fishbone (Ishikawa) diagram can be applied as template for performing the cause and effect analysis of a service industry problems. It can help to determine factors causing problems. Causes in this diagram are categorized according to the 4S’s principle that means Surroundings, Suppliers, Systems and Skills. Grouping causes allows to reveal main interactions between different events. This diagram was made using ConceptDraw Fishbone diagrams solution. It can help to reveal the causes effected a complicated issue. Of course it can be used together with other methods of approaching to the problem solving.
Picture: Draw Fishbone Diagram on MAC Software
Related Solution:
ConceptDraw DIAGRAM diagramming and vector drawing software extended with Directional Maps Solution from the Maps Area of ConceptDraw Solution Park is a powerful maps and directions design software. Let's review the tools of this solution.
Picture: Maps and Directions
Related Solution:
ConceptDraw DIAGRAM is a Mac OS X and Windows platforms professional software to draw your own business process diagrams and flowcharts.
Picture: Professional Diagram and Flowchart Software