ER Diagram from Microsoft Dynamics AX

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How to: Create an ERX ER Data Model

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When you select the ERX ER Data Model option for the Reverse Engineering tool, it generates an .erx file that can be used to create an entity relationship (ER) data model. After you generate an .erx file, you can import the file into a modeling tool, such as Microsoft Office Visio or CA ERwin Data Modeler, to create an ER data model.

The Reverse Engineering tool can create an .erx file from a private or shared project or from a perspective. Before you generate an .erx file, be sure that the project or perspective is already defined. For more information, see How to: Create a Development Project or How to: Create a Perspective for a Report Model (MorphX Reporting Tools).

The following procedures explain how to generate an .erx file and create an ER data model from an .erx file.

To generate an .erx file

1. On the Microsoft Dynamics AX menu, point to Tools, point to Development Tools, and then click Reverse Engineer. The Reverse Engineering dialog box displays.

   Note
   An alternative way to display the Reverse Engineering dialog box is to right-click the project or perspective, point to Add-Ins, and then click Reverse Engineer.

2. In the dialog box, select ERX ER Data Model.

3. Select the type of item that you want to generate a model for, Private project, Shared project, or Perspective, and then select the item from the drop-down menu.

4. If you want to change the name or location of the file, click the folder icon, and then specify a name and location for the file.

5. Click OK.

To create an ER data model in Microsoft Office Visio

1. Open Microsoft Office Visio.

2. On the File menu, point to New, point to Software and Database (or Database if you are using Microsoft Office Visio 2003) and then click Database Model Diagram.

3. On the Database menu, point to Import, and then click Import Erwin ERX file.

   Note
   You must be using the Database Model Diagram template to access the Import command.

4. In the dialog box, click the Browse button, navigate to the location of the .erx file that you generated from the Reverse Engineering tool, select the file, and then click OK.

   Note
   Microsoft Office Visio imports the file and displays the progress in the Output window. The imported tables and views display in the Tables and Views window.

5. On the Database menu, point to View, and then click Tables and Views.

6. Drag items from the Table and Views window onto the diagram surface.

   After you have added a table to the diagram, you can right-click the table in the diagram, and then click Show Related Tables. This will add all the related tables from the Tables and Views window that are not already in the diagram.

To create an ER data model in CA ERwin Data Modeler

1. Open CA ERwin Data Modeler.

2. On the File menu, point to Import, and then click From External Format. Import the ERX ER data model file that you generated from the Reverse Engineering tool.

   Note
   When the diagram first displays, all items are displayed in a single stack. You must arrange the items in the diagram.

See Also

Reverse Engineering Tool Overview

How to: Create a Visio UML Data Model

How to: Create a Visio UML Object Model

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