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- 6 minutes read

Vertabelo vs. Navicat Data Modeler

In this article, I’ll make a comparison of two popular database modelers: Vertabelo in version 1.21.0 and Navicat Data Modeler in version 1.0.12.

Features are listed in the left-hand column and each tool’s feature support is identified under the appropriate heading.

Vertabelo Navicat Data Modeler
Online tool
  • works under Chrome
  • OS independent
Standalone version available for:
  • Linux
  • Mac OS X
  • Windows
Model structure
Tables
References
Sequences
Views
Text Notes
Indexes
Checks
Additional SQL scripts
Supported database engines
  • PostgreSQL
  • MySQL
  • MS SQL Server
  • Oracle
  • SQLite
  • HSQLDB
  • IBM DB2
  • PostgreSQL
  • MySQL
  • MS SQL Server (Windows and Mac OS X editions only)
  • Oracle
  • SQLite
  • SQL Azure (Windows and Mac OS X editions only)
Supported data types Vertabelo supports a particular database from creation. While creating a diagram, you have access to the appropriate data type. While modeling, you can change the database engine.
Model navigation
Find table in diagram
Find column in diagram
Grouping tables
Search
Smooth workflow
Instant save
Live validation
SQL preview
Managing models
Versioning models
XML import/export
SQL import
SQL generation
Export to pdf
Export to png
Reverse engineering
Migration scripts planned
Pricing
  • Free up to 3 models and 20 tables per model
  • Free for non-commercial use
  • Basic $12 monthly up to 20 models, 100 tables per model
  • Premium $48 monthly – unlimited
Pricing
  • Navicat Data Modeler US$ 199
  • Navicat Data Modeler Non-Commercial Edition US$ 79
Pricing

Creating a model

Vertabelo Navicat Data Modeler

There are four ways to create a model in Vertabelo:

  • create a new blank one with a specified database engine (PostgreSQL, MySQL, MS SQL Server, HSQL DB, Oracle, SQLite, IBM DB2)
  • via an example diagram
  • import a model from SQL
  • import a model from XML
An Undo/Redo button enables you to quickly step back to a particular version of model. Vertabelo supports a particular database from creation. While creating a diagram, you have access to the appropriate data type.

You can create a new blank model or open an existing model.
Database engine support can be changed during the designing process.

Tables

Vertabelo Navicat Data Modeler

You can add /delete columns as well as:

  • Alternate keys
  • Indexes
  • Checks
  • Additional SQL scripts
  • Additional properties

After creating a reference, the foreign key is automatically added with label FK in the table. Primary key is set in Table properties and is also labeled in the diagram.

You can edit the table structure in a Table Designer, where you can create, edit and drop:

  • Table's fields,
  • Indexes,
  • Foreign keys.

Additionally, Navicat enables to specify a character set and collation for table field.

You can manipulate the size of a table by dragging the corners and can move tables using mouse and arrows.
You can access a SQL preview of a particular element. SQL preview available after generating SQL/DDL script.

Manage large diagrams

Each tool allows you to group tables in your design. How table groupings are represented and defined within each tool is described below.

Vertabelo Navicat Data Modeler
Subject areas
To group tables Vertabelo provides Subject areas. They are dashed rectangles that identify the tables, views, references and notes contained within.
You can manipulate the size of a subject area and drag the name of a subject area to any place you want: inside of a rectangle or outside the edge.
Navigation tree contains a list of all subject areas. From there you can find the table representation, reference, add/delete table and view.
Layers
Navicat uses 'Layers' to group tables. They are rectangles with a note for group description.
Shortcuts provide another graphical representation of the same table. You can't have more than one table representation in the same diagram.
You can't have parts of the model in different diagrams. You can have parts of the model in different diagrams. Diagram tree holds all the objects (tables, layers, notes, images and relations). Model tree holds all the tables in the model, including the tables used in each diagram. From Model tree you can easily copy the appropriate table to the chosen diagram.

Overview

Vertabelo Navicat Data Modeler
Overview is a map helping navigate the model. While dragging a model in the overview, the position of the model in the view also changes. Overview helps navigate the model. While zooming the map, the current model switches to the selected size in the map. Moving the current view in the map moves to a particular part of original diagram.

Sharing diagram and collaboration

Each tool allows you to share a database model. How models are shared within each tool is described below.

Vertabelo Navicat Data Modeler
A key Vertabelo feature is the ability to share your diagram with other users or create a public link presenting the model in read-only mode. With team collaboration, there are three access levels:
  • Owner
  • Editor
  • Viewer






Only one person can edit the model at a time. Others can see the diagram in read-only mode.
No collaboration support.

Model versioning

Vertabelo Navicat Data Modeler
Vertabelo enables Model versions in Model details for each model.

After each operation, for example, XML generation, there is an autosave when a version of the model is created.

At any time you can return to aparticular version and:
  • export it to XML
  • create a new model from this versions
  • delete versions
  • restore version
  • add tag to version
No versioning support. However, Navicat includes a 'history palette' that shows all of the actions that have been taken while working on the current diagram in the current session. Double clicking an action restores diagram to selected state.

Live validation

Only Vertabelo performs live validation on your database model. How this validation functions is described below.

Vertabelo Navicat Data Modeler
Vertabelo validates your model continuously and gives you hints on how to improve it. Every error, warning or tip is flagged by a dedicated icon and described in Table properties. No validation.

Reverse engineering

Vertabelo Navicat Data Modeler
You can import an existing database into Vertabelo via the Reverse Engineering tool. The Reverse Engineering tool is a simple command-line Java application that you can download from Vertabelo’s website. It connects to your database, reads the table and view details and stores the info in a XML file.
Details can be found at: Reverse engineering

You may also import a database structure from SQL script.
You can import an existing database using:
  • Direct connection



  • Import from local/remote database:
    • MySQL,
    • Oracle,
    • PostgreSQL,
    • SQLite
    • SQL Server and SQL Azure (available only in version for Mac and Windows)


  • Import tables from ODBC (available for Windows and MAC OS)
  • Import connections from Navicat family

Comparison and synchronization (Migrating scripts)

Vertabelo Navicat Data Modeler
No synchronization script support Navicat Data Modeler uses the 'Synchronize to database' function to let you view the differences between the new model and the previous one. Then the synchronization script is generated to update the destination database.

Generate SQL script

Vertabelo Navicat Data Modeler
At any time you can generate SQL script that:
  • creates all elements in your database,
  • removes all elements,
  • create or removes only selected (tables, references, sequences, views, procedures)
Navicat generates SQL script that creates all the elements/selected elements in your database including referential integrity rules, comments, character sets, etc.

Interoperability

Vertabelo Navicat Data Modeler
Vertabelo enables XML export and import.
Vertabelo stores your model in an XML format.
See how to extract some information using Vertabelo XML
To help you incorporate some automation into your build system, Vertabelo provides an API
No XML import/export support.
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