# Data Modeler - UI Walkthrough Astera Data Stack contains a built-in data modeler that you can use to create a data model from scratch or by reverse engineering an existing database. In this article, we will cover a detailed overview of the data modeler’s user interface. ### Video {% embed url="" %} ### Overview Let’s assume that we’ve created this data model by reverse engineering an existing database: ![01-sample-data-model](https://3181888596-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FzEifS4h8yurLAAwiGNX2%2Fuploads%2FDpfCIL9Axobz21WYghXC%2F01-sample-data-model.png?alt=media\&token=f183ed1f-4534-4c8a-a6b6-f04548084b14) ### Toolbar The data modeler contains a dedicated toolbar that provides an extensive list of options. ![02-data-model-toolbar](https://3181888596-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FzEifS4h8yurLAAwiGNX2%2Fuploads%2FlnfPJ3mkK7ZWAoi38ZQX%2Ftoolbar.png?alt=media\&token=247c265f-7963-4683-9e5e-0fbf223bffd3) You will find the following options or shortcut icons on the toolbar, from left to right. *Zoom*: A dropdown menu that allows you to zoom in or out of a model. *Auto-Size All*: Adjusts the size of each entity object. *View at an Entity Level*: Reverts to the default setting of displaying only entity names on the data modeler. *View Entity and all Elements*: Displays all of the elements or fields in each entity present in the model.

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*View Entity and Keys*: Displays all of the primary and foreign keys in each entity present in the model.

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*Show or Hide Items*: Displays only the selected entities in the model.

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*Show Alias Labels*: Displays the parent and child alias on each relationship link in the model. ![06-data-model-aliases](https://3181888596-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FzEifS4h8yurLAAwiGNX2%2Fuploads%2FUZL06bDtGzi0Qw5LdyvW%2F06-data-model-aliases.png?alt=media\&token=ce5350de-da1d-424b-8aeb-e33649585fd4) *Show Verb Labels*: Displays the parent-to-child and child-to-parent verbs, if assigned by the user, on the relationship link. You can assign these verbs to each relationship via the *Edit Relationship* window. *Show Data Types*: Displays the data types of each field in an entity. This option is only applicable if one of the following options has already been selected: *View Entity and all Elements* or *View Entity and Keys*. ![07-view-data-types](https://3181888596-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FzEifS4h8yurLAAwiGNX2%2Fuploads%2FgIC5A89UsePMZ3plCYJD%2F07-view-data-types.png?alt=media\&token=7cfe9528-3dec-4f0d-aded-f14325605c84) *Add Self Reference*: Allows you to create a self-reference relationship within an entity. To learn more about how you can use this option, click [here](https://documentation.astera.com/data-model/creating-and-editing-relationships#self-reference). *Link entities to create non-identifying relationships*: Allows you to create non-identifying relationships between entities. To learn more about how you can use this option, click[ here](https://documentation.astera.com/data-model/creating-and-editing-relationships#non-identifying). *Link entities to create identifying relationships*: Allows you to create identifying relationships between entities. To learn more about how you can use this option, click [here](https://documentation.astera.com/data-model/creating-and-editing-relationships#identifying). *Manage all relationships in data model*: Allows you to manually mark relationships as identifying or non-identifying. *Pointer*: Reverts back to the default pointer in case you had selected one of the options used to link entities and create relationships. *Infer Relationships from Field Names*: Automatically assumes and creates relationships based on common field names between entities. *Denormalize Entities*: Enables you to denormalize or combine two entities in the model. *Deploy Data Model*: Enables you to deploy a data model. For more information on deploying a data model, click [here](https://documentation.astera.com/data-model/deployment-and-usage/deploying-a-data-model). *Change Database Connection Info*: Allows you to change the database connection of the model via a *Database Connection* window. ![08-database-connection](https://content.gitbook.com/content/zEifS4h8yurLAAwiGNX2/blobs/pQXMDzWa7xkc4EKmSn1u/07-database-connection.PNG) *Bulk Operations*: *Allows you to perform actions on multiple data model entities at once, such as filtering or updating attributes.*

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*Reverse engineer an existing database*: Allows you to create a data model by reverse engineering an existing database. To learn more about the process of reverse engineering, click [here](https://documentation.astera.com/data-model/data-models/reverse-engineering-an-existing-database). *Forward Engineer an existing database*: Allows you to create a DDL script from a data model. *Povider*: Select the database provider to connect to your data source (e.g., SQL Server, PostgreSQL, Snowflake). ### Toolbox The toolbox includes a few objects which can be used as part of a model. ![10-data-model-toolbox](https://content.gitbook.com/content/zEifS4h8yurLAAwiGNX2/blobs/0YjWtrIyRkPYqqm4CMsW/08-data-model-toolbox.PNG) You can drag and drop any of these objects onto the data modeler. *Annotation*: Provides a textbox for you to add a comment on the model. *Date Dimension*: A non-editable date dimension entity that can be used as part of a dimensional model. *Entity*: An editable general entity that can be added to an existing data model or used to create a data model from scratch. To learn about general entities, click [here](https://documentation.astera.com/data-model/data-models/general-entity-properties). Time Dimension: A non-editable time dimension entity that can be used as part of a dimensional model. For more information on date and time dimensions, click [here](https://documentation.astera.com/data-model/dimensional-modelling/date-and-time-dimension). ### Data Model Browser The data model browser provides a single window for you to edit the data model and its components without having to look through the entire model and access the entities directly. ![11-data-model-browser](https://3181888596-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FzEifS4h8yurLAAwiGNX2%2Fuploads%2FVtrGC7ibWp7Yjc3WxGSp%2F11-data-model-browser.png?alt=media\&token=a25e3efc-b577-43f5-b8ec-df0c56fb3dc2) You can expand each entity to view the elements contained in it. ![12-data-model-browser-entity-elements](https://3181888596-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FzEifS4h8yurLAAwiGNX2%2Fuploads%2FCKFagGf6RxEcMv5GhMOk%2F12-data-model-browser-entity-elements.png?alt=media\&token=cb185f85-18fe-4c78-9a2a-f6608a73e79a) Moreover, you can right-click on an entity name and choose to go to the actual item in the data model. ![13-data-model-browser-context-menu](https://3181888596-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FzEifS4h8yurLAAwiGNX2%2Fuploads%2F4sZNVI3K6yHEdLuxvneu%2F13-data-model-browser-context-menu.png?alt=media\&token=67c197f4-f334-4970-990e-00e346aee63a) The other options available in the context menu are the same as those that appear when you right-click on an entity in the data model. ![14-entity-context-menu](https://3181888596-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FzEifS4h8yurLAAwiGNX2%2Fuploads%2FJOgGoVyq4XuUuV2TI8cR%2F14-entity-context-menu.png?alt=media\&token=08bd9eb0-2d5a-4294-8ec5-37d1e3221a42) At the very top of the data model browser, a few options/icons are available. ![15-data-model-browser-options](https://3181888596-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FzEifS4h8yurLAAwiGNX2%2Fuploads%2FjaAk2qfPvbZrg94kDRpX%2F15-data-model-browser-options.png?alt=media\&token=71c5f8d8-540f-48ca-8e35-ceeed5c791f7) *Sort Entities Alphabetically*: Sorts the entity names in an alphabetical order. This option is selected by default. *Group Entities by Type*: Creates separate nodes for each entity type. In this case, there’s only going to be one node, *General*, if this option is selected. *Group Entities by Schema*: Organizes entities under nodes based on their database schema (e.g., dbo, sales). *Expand All*: Expands all of the nodes in the data model browser. *Collapse All*: Collapses all of the nodes in the data model browser. *Delete this object from the data model*: Deletes the selected object from the data model. You can use the search bar underneath these options to search for any specific entity or field in the model. ### Views At the bottom of the data modeler, you’ll notice a tab titled *Main* and an icon that represents the *Add New View* option. ![16-data-model-views](https://3181888596-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FzEifS4h8yurLAAwiGNX2%2Fuploads%2FwTQpA4TmI7sZR6CMdP1F%2F16-data-model-views.png?alt=media\&token=00eea7d2-6ccc-4e68-ab1f-ea63cee49752) The *Main* tab contains a view of the complete data model. If you wish to add a new view consisting of a few specified entities, click on the *Add New View* icon. A blank designer will appear on the screen. Here, you can create a new view by adding entities from the existing model, which can be done in two ways. 1. Drag and drop the entities of your choice from the data model browser. ![17-view-data-model](https://3181888596-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FzEifS4h8yurLAAwiGNX2%2Fuploads%2Fr8hLi0XxMnfYE3yNkVjS%2F16-view-data-model.gif?alt=media\&token=b6728e4a-235c-4a27-94b2-1e397f08197d) 2. Right-click on the designer and select *Add Existing Entities* from the context menu. ![18-data-model-context-menu](https://3181888596-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FzEifS4h8yurLAAwiGNX2%2Fuploads%2FdLR0So6QSRZiWpklpZaX%2F17-data-model-context-menu.png?alt=media\&token=67925685-81c1-4115-ba10-944d5e70fe48) The following pop-up window will appear on the screen: ![19-add-entities-new-view](https://3181888596-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FzEifS4h8yurLAAwiGNX2%2Fuploads%2FlJ0Q1sEO0gDf8POMsiLR%2F19-add-new-entities-new-view.png?alt=media\&token=4d2b0ca6-7277-40c3-b4f3-74882b504a68) Here, you can select the entities you want to include in the new view. In this case, we’ll select *People*, *Invoices*, and *InvoiceLines*. ![20-add-new-entities-new-view](https://3181888596-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FzEifS4h8yurLAAwiGNX2%2Fuploads%2FICXGqSadT6cntDfeJqLG%2F19-add-new-entities-new-view.png?alt=media\&token=208bee9d-13aa-40a7-bdf1-1a1deb85a212) Once you’re done selecting the entities, click *OK*. A new view consisting of the selected entities will appear on the screen. ![21-data-model-new-view](https://3181888596-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FzEifS4h8yurLAAwiGNX2%2Fuploads%2Fx2e05JcZg9Hd9c4aTjvs%2F20-data-model-new-view.png?alt=media\&token=7bd673be-951a-401d-87ec-33b6a6a57482) Using the tabs at the bottom, you can switch between different views of the same model. This concludes our walkthrough of the data modeler’s user interface.