Mike Nicewarner

Sybase has recently included impact analysis features into the PowerDesigner (PD) modeling tool. If you aren't familiar with PD, it's a powerful tool for modeling business processes, data designs, XML messages, and application logic (ala UML). Within each model, you can view the ... (more)

The purpose of this article is to discuss and describe the terms "Surrogate Key" and "Natural Key," and explain when they are appropriate to use in a data model. Furthermore, the concepts of "Intelligence" and "Generated" will be applied to both types of keys. The goal is for th... (more)

In this article, I discuss and provide examples of the many rules of data normalization. Currently I count at least seven, which are: Eliminate repeating groups: Make a separate table for each set of related attributes and give each table a primary key. Eliminate redundant data: I... (more)

Many modelers are confused by overlaps in the data modeling terminology from the various vendors, and are not sure how to compare modeling tools when trying to buy one. This article will attempt to shed some light on this topic, and hopefully answer some of the more frustrating q... (more)

PowerDesigner is a very good data modeling tool, but with UML gaining acceptance in many IT shops, Sybase has gradually added object modeling features. In November, they started another beta program named Beluga primarily to add Use Case and Sequence diagrams, but also to fix som... (more)

Although still in beta, version 7.5 of the PowerDesigner Suite (PD7.5) from Sybase is a stable product. As the fifth iteration of the Dolphin code rewrite, it's mature and highly functional. To examine what PD7.5 looks like, let's walk through it. I like conceptual modeling, so t... (more)

PowerDesigner is a very good data modeling tool, but with UML gaining acceptance in many IT shops, Sybase has gradually added object modeling features. In November, they started another beta program named Beluga primarily to add Use Case and Sequence diagrams, but also to fix som... (more)

Although still in beta, version 7.5 of the PowerDesigner Suite (PD7.5) from Sybase is a stable product. As the fifth iteration of the Dolphin code rewrite, it's mature and highly functional. To examine what PD7.5 looks like, let's walk through it. I like conceptual modeling, so t... (more)