Forward Engineering/Schema Generation for Databases

You can generate a physical database schema from a physical model using the Forward Engineering process. The schema that you generate includes all options that are supported in your target server.

This topic walks you through the steps to generate alter script for a MongoDB model as an example. Similarly, you can generate alter script for a list of databases models based on your requirements. Also, the Forward Engineering Schema Generation Wizard has different configuration sections specific to database. For more information on database specific forward engineering schema generation options, refer to Forward Engineering Options for Databases topic.

To forward engineer a model, follow these steps:

1. Open a MongoDB model in erwin Data Modeler.

   Ensure that you are in the Physical mode.

2. Click Actions > Schema.
   The Forward Engineer Schema Generation Wizard appears.

   

3. Click Option Selection.
   
   The Option Selection tab displays the default option set. Select the schema generation syntax options as required.

   Similarly, you can select schema generation options for available schema groups for other databases.

   

4. Click Next.
   The Object Filter tab appears. It displays a list of collections available in your model.
   Similarly, you can filter and search Collections or Tables for other databases.
   

5. Select the collections that you want to forward engineer.

   

6. Click Preview to view the schema script.
   

   Use the following options:

   • Save (): Use this option to save the generated script in the JSON or BSON format.

   • Search (): Use this option to search for a word or characters in the schema.

   • Print (): Use this option to search for a word or characters in the schema.

   • Replace (): Use this option to find and replace characters in the script.

   • Copy (): Use this option to copy the script.

   • Text Options (): Use this option to configure the preview text editor's look and feel, such as window, font, syntax color settings. For more information, refer to the Forward Engineering Wizard - Preview Editor topic.

   • Error Check (): Use this option to run an error check. Based on the results, you can correct the generated script.

7. Click Generate.
   The forward engineering process starts. The script generates your physical database schema. You can access your database and verify the newly generated schema.
   
   

Similarly, you can generate alter script for a database using forward engineering, for more information refer to Generating Alter Script for Databases.