Think Bigger From EdrawMax User Guide

How to Make an ER Diagram on EdrawMax

This section will walk you through creating an ER Diagram with EdrawMax. It outlines the steps to map entities, attributes, and relationships.

Step ❶ Open EdrawMax

• Launch EdrawMax and click More on the Home Screen
• Select Database Modeling > Entity Relationship Diagram (ERD)
• Choose Blank Drawing to start from scratch
• A new canvas will open with ER diagram symbols on the left panel

Selecting ER Diagram template

Step ❷ Drag and Drop ER Diagram Symbols

• Drag an Entity symbol onto the canvas (represents database tables)
• Double-click to rename entities (e.g., "Customer", "Order")
• Add Attribute symbols for fields/properties
• Connect entities with Relationship symbols

Building the ER diagram structure

Step ❸ Set Primary and Foreign Keys

• Label attributes as PK (Primary Key) or FK (Foreign Key)
• Primary keys uniquely identify records (e.g., CustomerID)
• Foreign keys establish relationships between tables

Database Tip:

Primary keys are underlined in standard ER notation.

Defining primary and foreign keys

Step ❹ Customize the Diagram

• Use the formatting toolbar to adjust:
  • Text size, font, and color
  • Line styles and connector types
  • Shape colors and effects
• Group related elements for better organization
• Add background shapes to highlight sections

Formatting tools for ER diagrams

Step ❺ Save or Export Your Diagram

• Save: File > Save As (EDDX format for future editing)
• Export: File > Export to share in:
  • PDF (for documentation)
  • PNG (for presentations)
  • Word/Visio (for collaboration)

Export formats available