After several months of development SQL Power released a new version of the Power Architect which is now available in 2 different version, the "old" Community Edition (CE, also available on Google Code) and the brand new Enterprise Edition (EE). Today I want to give you an overview of the most exciting new functions in SQL Power Architect EE.
Central project repository & Security
In the Enterprise Edition all projects are stored on the server and you can create users and groups and give them different access rights to the projects depending on their role.
Data Types and Domains
This is one of the most important features in the new version. Prior to version 1.0 EE you could only work with a set of standard column types that all (most databases would understand). With Data Types and Domains you are finally able to define your own type and specify how this type should be forward engineered in the different database management systems. For example the type "Numeric" will be forward engineered to the type DECIMAL in HSQLDB but to NUMBER in Oracle.
Versioning
With version 1.0 EE you can easily revert changes you made in your project and compare different versions of your project.
Data Model Validation
With the new data model validation you don't have to wait until you forward engineer to see if you have any errors in your data model. You can just click on the validation button and you will see where you need to do some changes. You can also select the validation rules you want to use, a column name you are using might be valid in SQL Server but not in Oracle.
Real Time Collaboration
Unlike most versioning tools where you have checkout and check-in your project Power Architect EE allows real time collaboration. You work "live" on the server, all changes you make on a project are instantly stored at the server and you watch others working on the project.
There are more features that have been added or improved like the ETL mappings and the profiling results. I think it's worth giving it a try. With the trial version you get 30 days product support and if you decide to buy it before end of October you will get a 3 user licence for the price of a 1 user licence
Central project repository & Security
In the Enterprise Edition all projects are stored on the server and you can create users and groups and give them different access rights to the projects depending on their role.
Data Types and Domains
This is one of the most important features in the new version. Prior to version 1.0 EE you could only work with a set of standard column types that all (most databases would understand). With Data Types and Domains you are finally able to define your own type and specify how this type should be forward engineered in the different database management systems. For example the type "Numeric" will be forward engineered to the type DECIMAL in HSQLDB but to NUMBER in Oracle.
Versioning
With version 1.0 EE you can easily revert changes you made in your project and compare different versions of your project.
Data Model Validation
With the new data model validation you don't have to wait until you forward engineer to see if you have any errors in your data model. You can just click on the validation button and you will see where you need to do some changes. You can also select the validation rules you want to use, a column name you are using might be valid in SQL Server but not in Oracle.
Real Time Collaboration
Unlike most versioning tools where you have checkout and check-in your project Power Architect EE allows real time collaboration. You work "live" on the server, all changes you make on a project are instantly stored at the server and you watch others working on the project.
There are more features that have been added or improved like the ETL mappings and the profiling results. I think it's worth giving it a try. With the trial version you get 30 days product support and if you decide to buy it before end of October you will get a 3 user licence for the price of a 1 user licence
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