Microsoft Sql Database Design Tool

SQL Server Database Diagram Tool in Management Studio

By: | Updated: 2019-12-17 | Comments (6) | Related: More > Database Design

Problem

Often sophisticated tools such as ER/Studio or ERWIN are used to create database diagrams, but these are not necessary to create simple database diagrams, print them or convert to a Microsoft Word document or to PDF to save and share with your team. In this tip we will walk through how to create a database diagram using SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS).

Solution

Using Microsoft's sample database WideWorldImporters, I will demonstrate creating a simple database diagram of a limited number of tables focusing on Invoice related tables in the database. I'll then copy the Database Diagram to MS Word so it can be saved and printed.

Step 1 – New Database Diagram using SQL Server Management Studio

In SSMS under the database WideWorldImporters, right click "Database Diagrams" and select "New Database Diagram".

Example for SSMS Database Diagram Menu

Step 2 – From Database Diagram – Select a table

From the Database Diagrams tool dialog scroll and select Invoice table. Press Add and then Close.

SSMS Database Diagram - Add Table

Step 3 – From Database Diagram – Add Related tables

Right click the Invoices table and select "Add Related Tables". This automatically adds tables linked to the Invoices table by Foreign Keys of which the Invoices table is a foreign key.

SSMS Database Diagram - Add Related Tables

Step 4 – Eliminate Unwanted Tables from the Diagram

Right click on any table that might clutter the diagram and that you feel is not important and select "Remove From Diagram".

SSMS Database Diagram - Remove Tables

Step 5 – From Database Diagram – Auto Arrange Tables

Right click the Invoices table and select "Arrange Tables". This organizes the tables with out overlapping.

SSMS Database Diagram - Arrange Tables

Step 6 – From Database Diagram – Adjust the Layout

You can do the following:

Right click to select a Zoom level to see your tables.
Drag a table to adjust the positioning.
Click a table and put the cursor on the edge to resize the table layout.

SSMS Database Diagram - Zoom

Step 7 – From Database Diagram – Auto Size All Tables

Use CTRL + A to select all tables. Right click any highlighted table and select "Autosize Selected Tables". Select and drag the connector lines to rearrange.

SSMS Database Diagram - Auto Size

Step 8 – From Database Diagram – Copy to Clipboard

Once the Diagram is sized and arranged as desired, hit Save and give your Diagram a name. Then right click any white space in the Diagram and select "Copy Diagram to Clipboard".

SSMS Database Diagram - Copy Diagram

Step 9 – Paste the Diagram to MS Word

Open Microsoft Word. Insert a single cell Table and paste the Database Diagram in the cell.

MS WORD Table

Step 10 – In Word Adjust and Maximize the Database Diagram Image

Adjust the Word document to maximize the database diagram image. Change the margins to .5 inch, enter the image and resize it to enlarge. Below is a snippet from a Word document Database Diagram.

MS Word - Snippet

Wrap Up

Once the diagram is in Word you can print it, share it, or save as a Word Doc or PDF file. This is an effective way to create simple limited Database Diagrams that can be leveraged when documenting your database. I find creating partial database diagrams around logical groups of tables a good way to document a database. There are other options that can be done in SSMS Database Diagrams such as only showing the Table Names and Relationships or only displaying the Key Columns which may allow more tables to be added to the Database Diagram and still fit in a Word document.

Next Steps

Also check out more on Reverse engineering a database
For addition details about SSMS Database Diagrams read Getting Started with SQL Server Database Diagrams
Learn more about Working with Database Diagrams from Microsoft SQL Docs