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Chen Notation

The innovative technique of Entity–Relationship (ER) modeling was developed and introduced by Peter Chen in 1976 for database design, data modeling and representation the data structures in terms of entities and relationships. Creation of an ER model is one of the most important steps in business process modeling and database design. It is particularly useful for complex data structures that are usually hard to represent in a simple and understandable form for all. But this became possible thanks to the generally accepted Chen notation that is common and thus clear for all system designers, database developers, and business users. ER diagrams allow to visualize and document all details for designed system, all actual data requirements, depict the entities (important domain objects, people, events, ideas, conditions, etc.), their attributes and interactions each other. Chen notation supposes a visual representation of entities by rectangular boxes with indicated nouns, attributes as ovals and relationships as diamonds with verbs.

The Chen Notation solution extends ConceptDraw DIAGRAM software with rich collection of ERD samples and selection of special Chen's notation icons for effective visual representation of relationships between the entities on the ER diagrams designed with Chen notation.


There is 1 stencil library containing 28 vector graphics in the Chen Notation solution.

Design Elements — Chen Notation


Design Elements — Chen Notation

Examples

There are a few samples that you see on this page which were created in the ConceptDraw DIAGRAM application by using the Chen Notation solution. Some of the solution's capabilities as well as the professional results which you can achieve are all demonstrated here on this page.

All source documents are vector graphic documents which are always available for modifying, reviewing and/or converting to many different formats, such as MS PowerPoint, PDF file, MS Visio, and many other graphic ones from the ConceptDraw Solution Park or ConceptDraw STORE. The Chen Notation solution is available to all ConceptDraw DIAGRAM users to get installed and used while working in the ConceptDraw DIAGRAM diagramming and drawing software.

Example 1: Chen Notation — Entity Relationship Model

This diagram was created in ConceptDraw DIAGRAM using the Chen Notation Library from the Chen Notation Solution. An experienced user spent 10 minutes creating this sample.

This ER diagram sample demonstrates the Entity-Relationship Model for a school constructed with Chen notation. Use the commands from the Action menu of attribute object to define and visually denote the attribute’s type, also as the key attributes are underlined on this diagram.

Chen Notation — Entity Relationship Model

Example 2: Chen Notation — Entity-Relationship Diagram

This diagram was created in ConceptDraw DIAGRAM using the Chen Notation library from the Chen Notation Solution. An experienced user spent 20 minutes creating this sample.

This sample diagram using the Chen Notation solution shows the type of icons and graphics you can use to develop a model of a database of arbitrary complexity according to Chen's notation.

This diagram example was redrawn from en.wikipedia.org using ConceptDraw DIAGRAM software enhanced with ConceptDraw Chen Notation solution.

Chen Notation — Entity-Relationship Diagram

Example 3: Chen Notation — WordPress File Reference

This diagram was created in ConceptDraw DIAGRAM using the ERD, Chen’s Notation Library from the Chen Notation Solution. An experienced user spent 10 minutes creating this sample.

This sample shows an Entity-Relationship Diagram of a WordPress file reference using Chen’s Notation, which represents the entities as rectangles and attributes as ovals. Creating similar diagrams in ConceptDraw DIAGRAM will take just minutes.

Chen Notation — WordPress File Reference

Inside

Chen Notation Solution for Apple OS

Chen Notation Solution for Microsoft Windows

What I Need to Get Started

Both ConceptDraw DIAGRAM diagramming and drawing software and the Chen Notation solution can help creating the software engineering diagrams you need. The Chen Notation solution can be found in the Software Development area of ConceptDraw STORE application that can be downloaded from this site. Make sure that both ConceptDraw DIAGRAM and ConceptDraw STORE applications are installed on your computer before you get started.

How to install

After ConceptDraw STORE and ConceptDraw DIAGRAM are downloaded and installed, you can install the Chen Notation solution from the ConceptDraw STORE.

Chen Notation solution - Install

Start Using

To make sure that you are doing it all right, use the pre-designed symbols from the stencil libraries from the solution to make your drawings look smart and professional. Also, the pre-made examples from this solution can be used as drafts so your own drawings can be based on them. Using the samples, you can always change their structures, colors and data.

Chen Notation solution - Start Using

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