erwin Data Modeler

Overview

erwin Data Modeler is one of the longest-established enterprise data modelling tools, sold today by Quest Software. It covers conceptual, logical, physical, dimensional and NoSQL models in every edition, and is used by data architects, administrators and DBAs to design schemas and keep them consistent across a large estate.

The working pattern is reverse-engineer, design, then generate. Complete Compare handles the awkward part: comparing a model with a live database, or with another model, and synchronising the differences. From version 15.2 it can also derive a logical model from a conceptual one and compare across those layers.

Four editions are published. Standard is the single-modeller tool; Workgroup adds a central mart for multi-user modelling with conflict resolution, versioning and security; Navigator is a cheaper read-only seat for people who only need to view models and run reports; Lite ships with Toad for Oracle.

Recent releases push towards data engineering and AI: dbt export, OpenAPI models, Jira and GitHub or Bitbucket integration, RDF semantic export, and REST APIs. AI features such as generating a model from a prompt, validating DDL and drafting glossary terms need a separately purchased add-on. Quest has said a new interface is coming.

It pairs with erwin Data Intelligence, so glossaries and models can flow into the wider governance catalogue, and with erwin ER360, a web portal for browsing harvested models end to end.

Key features and capabilities

The same headings are used for every data modelling & design entry, so two tools can be read side by side.

Model types

• Conceptual, logical, physical, dimensional and NoSQL models in every edition
• Conceptual models with derivation to and from logical models, and cross-layer compare
• OpenAPI 3.x models, plus JSON, Avro and Parquet schemas

Forward and reverse engineering

• Reverse engineering from live databases and DDL scripts, for relational and NoSQL targets
• Forward engineering with AI-based validation of the generated DDL
• Complete Compare: model to database and model to model, with synchronisation
• Model derivation between conceptual, logical and physical layers

Platform coverage

• Relational: Oracle, SQL Server and Azure SQL, PostgreSQL, Db2, MySQL, MariaDB, Teradata, SAP ASE and IQ
• Cloud and analytics: Snowflake, Databricks, BigQuery, Redshift, Azure Synapse, Microsoft Fabric Warehouse
• NoSQL: MongoDB, Cassandra, Couchbase, DynamoDB, Amazon Keyspaces, Neo4j, ArangoDB
• Connects natively or through JDBC and ODBC

Collaboration and version control

• Workgroup edition adds a central mart with versioning, conflict resolution and security
• The mart runs on SQL Server, Oracle or PostgreSQL, administered through the web Mart Portal
• Navigator edition gives read-only access with HTML and PDF reporting
• Model change impact analysis across the mart

Standards, glossary and governance

• Reusable standards: model templates, domains, naming and datatype standards, automation macros
• Enterprise Glossary in the Mart Portal, with AI-assisted descriptions and semantic mapping
• Two-way sync of glossaries with erwin Data Intelligence
• erwin ER360 web portal for browsing harvested models from conceptual through to physical

Integrations and automation

• dbt export with metadata intact, and RDF or TTL semantic export
• Jira orchestration, plus GitHub, GitHub Enterprise and Bitbucket for source control
• REST APIs with access tokens for the Mart Portal and ER360
• Model migration from SAP PowerDesigner, and Microsoft Entra ID single sign-on

How it runs

• Windows desktop client
• Server side: a mart database plus the Mart Portal and ER360 web applications
• Licensing through Quest's web licensing portal, with offline checkout

Pricing

SubscriptionStandard from £2,769.60 per user a year

Annual subscription per named user, with 24x7 support, bought from Quest's online store. Standard edition is £2,769.60 per user a year and Workgroup, which adds the shared mart and change management, is £3,874.80. The store shows prices by region, so figures differ outside the UK, and Quest quotes enterprise deals separately. AI features need a paid add-on. A free trial is offered.

Vendor pricing page →

Demos and videos

• Sneak peek of the all-new user interface of erwin Data Modeler Product demo · YouTube
• Designing data structures with intelligence: Workgroup edition and Mart Portal Webinar or talk · YouTube
• Quest Software channel Channel or playlist · YouTube

About Quest Software

Quest Software is an enterprise software company founded in 1987 and based in Aliso Viejo, California, selling database, directory and data management tools. It says more than 45,000 organisations use its products. Quest bought erwin, Inc. from Parallax Capital Partners in a deal announced in January 2021, taking on more than 3,500 erwin customers; the product carries an older lineage through CA, where it was sold as CA ERwin Data Modeler. Quest itself has been owned by Clearlake Capital Group since February 2022.

Founded 1987 · Aliso Viejo, California · quest.com