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ERD Symbols and Meanings

Modeling your data using entity-relationship diagram (ERD) with Crow's Foot notation which is popular in Structured Systems Analysis, Barker's Notations, Design Methods and information engineering you need the software that is easy in use having all necessary elements for creating the needed flowcharts as well as their examples. You can find all essential ERD symbols and its meanings on our site with tutorials of how to use it and you can always use the already existing layouts for making your own diagrams in our Solution Park. Once you download our application with extension of hundreds of design elements you’ll find it simple to start using it straight away and you’ll be pleasantly surprised of how smart this tool for making the charts is.

Design elements Crow’s Foot notation

Crow's Foot notation is used in Barker's Notation, Structured Systems Analysis and Design Method (SSADM), and information engineering. Crow's Foot diagrams represent entities as boxes, and relationships as lines between the boxes. Different shapes at the ends of these lines represent the cardinality of the relationship.

Entity-Relationship model making possibility to describe a database in which in the tables data can be the point to data in other tables — for instance, your entry in the database could point to several entries.

To create an ERD, software engineers mainly turn to dedicated drawing software, which contain the full notation resources for their specific database design — ERD symbols and meanings. CS Odessa has released an all-inclusive Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD) solution for their powerful drawing program, ConceptDraw DIAGRAM

Example 1. Entity Relationship Diagram symbols and meaning

When you need to describe efficiently a database using the Crow’s Foot notation icons, ConceptDraw DIAGRAM gives you the ability to draw Entity Relationship diagram (ERD) fast and easy.

Design elements Chen's notation

The Chen's ERD notation is still used and is considered to present a more detailed way of representing entities and relationships.

Use also ConceptDraw DIAGRAM enhanced with powerful Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD) solution to draw your own ER diagrams using Chen's notation icons.

Symbol	Shape Name	Symbol Description
Entities
	Entity	An entity is represented by a rectangle which contains the entity’s name.
	Weak Entity	An entity that cannot be uniquely identified by its attributes alone. The existence of a weak entity is dependent upon another entity called the owner entity. The weak entity’s identifier is a combination of the identifier of the owner entity and the partial key of the weak entity.
	Associative Entity	An entity used in a many-to-many relationship (represents an extra table). All relationships for the associative entity should be many
Attributes
	Attribute	In the Chen notation, each attribute is represented by an oval containing atributte’s name
	Key attribute	An attribute that uniquely identifies a particular entity. The name of a key attribute is underscored.
	Multivalued attribute	An attribute that can have many values (there are many distinct values entered for it in the same column of the table). Multivalued attribute is depicted by a dual oval.
	Derived attribute	An attribute whose value is calculated (derived) from other attributes. The derived attribute may or may not be physically stored in the database. In the Chen notation, this attribute is represented by dashed oval.
Relationships
	Strong relationship	A relationship where entity is existence-independent of other entities, and PK of Child doesn’t contain PK component of Parent Entity. A strong relationship is represented by a single rhombus
	Weak (identifying) relationship	A relationship where Child entity is existence-dependent on parent, and PK of Child Entity contains PK component of Parent Entity. This relationship is represented by a double rhombus.

In addition to the vector stencil image libraries with full standardized Chen and Crow’s foot notations included, the Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD) solution contains a number of ERD templates and samples added to the solution pack. They will help users quick start representing their own ideas.

Example 2. Entity Relationship Diagram samples and templates in ConceptDraw STORE

Try it today for saving your time sake not to look for something else once you have great chance to use this excellent product already now!

The following features make ConceptDraw DIAGRAM the best Entity Relationship Diagram ERD Software:

You don't need to be an artist to draw professional looking diagrams in a few minutes.
Large quantity of ready-to-use vector objects (entity relationship diagram symbols and meaning) makes your drawing diagrams quick and easy.
Great number of predesigned templates and samples give you the good start for your own diagrams.
ConceptDraw DIAGRAM provides you the possibility to use the grid, rules and guides. You can easily rotate, group, align, arrange the objects, use different fonts and colors to make your diagram exceptionally looking.
All ConceptDraw DIAGRAM documents are vector graphic files and are available for reviewing, modifying, and converting to a variety of formats: image, HTML, PDF file, MS PowerPoint Presentation, Adobe Flash, MS Visio.
Using ConceptDraw STORE you can navigate through ConceptDraw Solution Park, managing downloads and updates. You can access libraries, templates and samples directly from the ConceptDraw STORE.
If you have any questions, our free of charge support is always ready to come to your aid.

TEN RELATED HOW TO's:

Types of Flowcharts →

A flowchart is a simple but very functional tool when it comes to understanding a workflow or to removing unnecessary stages from a process. When drawing flowcharts, keep in mind that there are four common types of flowcharts, like document flowcharts and data flowcharts that show control over a data or document flow over a system. To show controls on a physical level, use system flowcharts. In addition, to show controls in a program, you can draw a program flowchart. This flowchart diagram represents the piece of an article editing process, that involves the author and editor. It was created using the Basic Flowchart notation that consists from the basic flowchart symbols. The start and the end of the process are indicated with "Terminator" symbols. The "Process" symbols show the action steps consisting from making edits and searching for a compromise, when the author does not agree with the suggestions of the editor. The "Process" symbol is the general symbol in process flowcharts. The "Decision" symbol indicates a branching in the process flow. There are two branches indicated by a Decision shape in the current flowchart (Yes/No, Disagree/Agree). This basic flowchart can be used as a repeating unit in the workflow diagram describing the working process of some editorial office. Types of Flowcharts *

Picture: Types of Flowcharts

Related Solution:

Flowcharts

Flow chart Example

Warehouse Flowchart →

If you want to find a way to understand complex things in minutes, you should try to visualize data. One of the most useful tool for this is creating a flowchart, which is a diagram representing stages of some process in sequential order. There are so many possible uses of flowcharts and you can find tons of flow charts examples and predesigned templates on the Internet. Warehouse flowchart is often used for describing workflow and business process mapping. Using your imagination, you can simplify your job or daily routine with flowcharts. Warehouse flowcharts are used to document product and information flow between sources of supply and consumers. The flowchart provides the staged guidance on how to manage each aspect of warehousing and describes such aspects as receiving of supplies; control of quality; shipment and storage and corresponding document flow. Warehouse flowchart, being actual is a good source of information. It indicates the stepwise way to complete the warehouse and inventory management process flow. Also it can be very useful for an inventory and audit procedures.

Picture:

Flow chart Example

Warehouse Flowchart

Related Solution:

Flowcharts

Tree Network Topology Diagram →

When designing a network, it is important to take into account the hierarchy of network devices. When you have a root device you should consider a tree network topology that might have any number of lower levels as you might need. This technology is based on star and bus network topologies. This is a schematic representation of a Tree computer network topology. A tree topology means that some star networks are linked together. A star network is a topology of the local network where a central workstation is connected with each end-user computer or peripherals. A tree structure means that, the central nodes of these star networks are linked to a main cable (the Bus topology). So, a Tree network topology is a few Star networks connected into a Bus topology. This scheme can be applied to draw the particular physical or logical network diagrams using the ConceptDraw Computer and Networks solution.

Picture: Tree Network Topology Diagram

Related Solution:

Computer Network Diagrams

Organizational Structure Total Quality Management →

The Total Quality Management Diagram solution helps you and your organization visualize business and industrial processes. Create Total Quality Management diagrams for business process with ConceptDraw software.

Picture: Organizational Structure Total Quality Management

Related Solution:

Total Quality Management TQM Diagrams

Data Flow Diagram →

There are many ways to define the flow of information within a system. Structured-systems analysis method often uses data flow diagrams to show data flow, data storages and data processing visualization. These diagrams are easy to develop and quite useful. Here is a dataflow diagram presenting an example of the manufacturing process flow. The oval process shapes represent a process that controls data within the current system. The process may produce data or make some action based on data. Data flows are represented by lines. They show the movement of information through the system. The direction of the data flow is depicted by the arrow. The external entities are shown by rectangles. They represent the external entities interacting with the system. The data store objects (unclosed rectangles) are used to show data bases participating in a process flow. Data Flow Diagram *

Picture: Data Flow Diagram

Related Solution:

Data Flow Diagrams (DFD)

ER Diagram Tool →

Creating of Entity-Relationship Diagrams (ERDs) is a complex process that requires convenient, automated tools. ConceptDraw DIAGRAM diagramming and vector drawing software offers a powerful ER Diagram Tool - the Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD) Solution from the Software Development Area. ER Diagram Tool *

Picture: ER Diagram Tool

Related Solution:

Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD)

Block Diagram →

The vector stencils libraries: Block Diagrams, Blocks with Perspective, Callouts, Connectors, Raised Blocks from the solution Block Diagrams contain specific block diagram symbols such as arrows, input/output symbols, start/end symbols, processing symbols, conditional symbols, commenting symbols, callouts, connectors, etc. for ConceptDraw DIAGRAM diagramming and vector drawing software. The Block Diagrams solution is contained in a Diagrams area of ConceptDraw Solution Park. Use the libraries from the Block Diagrams solution to draw block diagrams for your business documents, presentations and websites in a few minutes. Block Diagram *

Picture: Block Diagram

Related Solution:

Block Diagrams

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