Visio database diagrams, associating columns

Question

I'm trying to be a good developer and create some documentation before I start programming my next project.

I have created a database schema diagram in Visio and created relationships between columns.

However, I am looking for a way to make the relationships between columns more clear. I want the arrow to connect column to column.

Is there a way to do this in Visio?

Answer 1

You can use the Visio Drawing tools to force the Relationship Connector to glue to particular Connection Points on the Table Shapes:

1. Turn on Connection Points in the View menu.
2. On the standard toolbar find the Connector Tool just to the right of the Pointer Tool. Click on the little arrow and change to the Connection Point Tool.
3. Hold Ctrl and click on one of the Table Shapes at the point where you want to join the Relationship Connector.
4. Do the same on the other Table Shape.
5. Glue the ends of the Relationship Connector to the Connection Points you just added.
6. You will have broken the relationship. To fix it, select the Relationship Connector and view the definition of the relationship in the Database Properties Window.
7. Associate the fields again.

(This was tested with Visio Enterprise 2003.)