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Oracle Performance Tuning and Optimization
(Publisher: Macmillan Computer Publishing)
Author(s): Edward Whalen
ISBN: 067230886x
Publication Date: 04/01/96

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Generators

Generators are the tools that take the models designed by the System Designer and produce client and server code to help you create your database and application. The generators take into account not only the models but your business rules as well to help design an application that fits your needs. The generators include the following tools:

  Forms Generator. This tool designs Oracle forms based on the business information required.
  Reports Generator. This tool designs Oracle reports based on the business reports your organization requires.
  Server Generator. This tool creates the server code necessary for the management of objects, tables, views, and so on.

These tools make Oracle Designer/2000 a very powerful package. Designer/2000 is a powerful and complex combination of tools that can help with the entire design process of your information system. Because it is quite complex, it is not for smaller installations that have only a few tables with relatively few relationships.

Third-Party Tools

Several very good utilities that can assist you with the design of your database are on the market today. Among others, these third-party tools include ERwin/ERX from Logic Works, S-Designor from SDP Technologies, and SQL Coder from Platinum Technologies. All three of these tools are very good and easy to use; all three are on a much smaller scale than the Designer/2000 suite from Oracle.

If you are in a small-to-medium business and don’t have the need for a tool as complex and sophisticated as Designer/2000, one of these third-party products may be just for you.


NOTE:  The three tools described in the following sections are used as examples of what is currently available; do not consider the inclusion or exclusion of other similar tools in this book as an endorsement or lack of endorsement of any tool.

ERwin/ERX from Logic Works

ERwin/ERX is similar to Designer/2000 but is not as complex to use. ERwin/ERX graphically builds relationships between tables; from that information, it produces Oracle definition code that can assist you in building the database. ERwin/ERX can also create PL/SQL code for triggers and stored procedures.

By using a graphical tool such as ERwin/ERX, it is easy to view the relationships between tables and clusters and see how constraints must function. The use of such a tool can help you visually represent the relationships between tables you might otherwise miss when designing a database by hand.

S-Designor from SDP Technologies

S-Designor is a third-party tool that functions in much the same way as Designer/2000 but on a smaller scale. S-Designor is a Windows application that graphically lets you input your business and application models; from that information, it creates Oracle definition code you can use to create an Oracle database.

S-Designor interfaces with tools such as PowerBuilder, SQLWindows, and others to provide a complete database and application design tool. With S-Designor, you can create not only database definitions but constraints, views, triggers, and stored procedures as well.

Because S-Designor is not as sophisticated and complex as Designer/2000, it may be ideal for moderate-to-small database installations. Because the product works with application design tools with which you are already familiar, no additional overhead is incurred by having to learn a new application development tool.

SQL Coder from Platinum Technologies

SQL Coder is another excellent tool that can help you properly design and implement your server database. SQL Coder can assist you to properly implement objects such as stored procedures, triggers, packages, views, tables, and so on. By employing this kind of tool to assist you in the design phase, you can avoid errors and design a more optimal database.

By examining the layout of your database, SQL Coder can help with the design of the database and can offer suggestions, such as where indexes would be useful. As with the other database design tools mentioned in this chapter, SQL Coder can be used standalone or in conjunction with application development tools available from Platinum Technologies or other vendors.

Summary of Database Design Tools

The tools described in the preceding sections—as well as other third-party tools—can assist you in the design of your database and help you determine relationships and constraints you might otherwise miss when creating the database by hand. When dealing with tens or hundreds of tables, it can be difficult to coordinate all the relationships and constraints.

When you use tools to assist with the design stage of the database, you can avoid costly mistakes. By using tools, you simplify your work so that you can focus your attention on the design process and database design rather than on all the details. No matter how good the tool, remember that it is only a tool; all database information should be verified before you build your database.

Application Development Tools

You can use application development tools to assist in the prototyping, development, and deployment of applications. When you use application development tools, you can quickly deploy very good applications with relatively little effort. However, you should keep in mind a few caveats when using this type of tool.

Some tools are easy to use and require very little training before applications can be deployed. However, the more sophisticated tools typically allow you to create much more sophisticated applications. This is not to say that the easy-to-use application development tools are not good—they can be very good. But some of them may have some limitations if you try to use them for very sophisticated applications.


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