Reverse engineering tour – Visualizing databases with data model diagrams

This article shows a quick overview of ERD aka data model diagrams created by reverse engineering most commonly used SQL Server sample databases. The models are shown in different layouts and styles, using the reverse engineering capabilities of ApexSQL Model.

Pubs

The “oldest” sample database, when reverse engineering Pubs the simplicity of this database is seen, showing only a few tables and its relationships:

Hierarchical

Tree

Northwind

Northwind database is also a sample database from the early period of SQL Server but it’s a bit more detailed then Pubs which can be seen when reverse engineering it in the pictures below:

Hierarchical

Tree

AdventureWorks 2008

The first member of the family of AdventureWorks sample databases, AdventureWorks 2008 was also the first complex sample database which can be seen when reverse engineered.

Newer members of the AdventureWorks database family are created as upgrades to the original 2008 database and are more evolved with every new version:

Hierarchical

Tree

AdventureWorks 2012:

Hierarchical

Tree

AdventureWorks 2016:

Hierarchical

Tree

WideWorldImporters

The WideWorldImporters database is the latest sample database and it contains fictional real-time analytics and transactions. This makes it far more complex than all previously shown sample databases:

Hierarchical

Tree

ApexSQL Model can be also used to create database model diagrams from any other database on SQL Server and has the ability to export those diagrams with High DPI and 4K resolution support. For more information, visit the ApexSQL Model product page.