You can create a UML database notation diagram in Visio to define the structure of a relational database.
While UML doesn't have specifications for data modeling, it can be a useful tool for diagraming, especially since data from databases can be used in object-oriented programming. The Visio UML database shapes are very similar to the UML class diagram shapes that are used to model object-oriented classes, and they give you a consistent notation for your entire system.
First, you open the UML Database Notation diagram, which comes with a database notation stencil that has shapes that conform to the UML 2.5 or 2.0 standard, depending on your version of Visio.
- Start Visio. Or if you have a file open already, click File > New.
- In the Search box, type
UML database notation. - Select the UML Database Notation template.
- In the dialog box, select either Metric Units or US Units.
- Select Create.
- The diagram opens. You should see the Shapes window next to the diagram. If you don’t see it, go to View > Task Panes and make sure that Shapes is selected. If you still don’t see it, click the Expand the Shapes window button on the left.
- On the View tab, make sure the check box next to Connection Points is selected. This will make connection points appear when you start connecting shapes.
- You're ready to begin drawing your diagram. Select the stencil, then drag an Entity shape from it onto your diagram to start.
