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Ordering process

I've ordered ERDConcepts through the Share-it website but I' am still waiting for the registration email
In most cases you will receive a confirmation email within 24 hours. All orders are individually checked and processed. Please contact sales when you are waiting over 48 hours. Also make sure the registration email is not deleted by your anti spam software.
   
The website says i receive a discount for future major releases. What does it  mean?
You buy a license for a major version. Minor versions, including new features are free of charge. When a new major version is released you must buy a new license when you like to upgrade. Existing customers may receive an additional discount
   
Do you offer any satisfaction guarantee, such as that I can return the product and get a refund within a certain period?
There is no refund period. You can download the trial version and evaluate all features ERDConcepts provides before purchase. The trial is not restricted in any way and is the same as the full version. However in special cases we can decide to make an exception. Please contact us before purchasing the software regarding this subject.
   
As i'm considering using ERDConcepts in my Oracle training classes, could you provide some information on the reseller/affiliate arrangement?
As a reseller/affifliate you will receive a fee for each license you sell. You can register as an affiliate through the Shareit control panel (Shareit will handle all sales related issues). For more details on the Shareit affiliate program you can visit the Affiliate program page.

You can also place your orders directly by Polderij (contracted) by sending us a fax order form with the license keys you need. You will then receive an invoice per order. Each license has a unique registration name / license combination. If you need a personalized copy of ERDConcepts for each student (including home use) the affiliate program is the best way to go.
   
I am considering purchasing 5 licenses of the ERDConcepts here in the USA but need a conversion to US dollars
You can visit our site and click on the link "buy now". You will then go to the Shareit order page were you can select US dollars as transaction price.
   
I am currently evaluating database design tools for use in an academic research project at a university. Accordingly, I am writing to enquire whether your company offers a discounted version of ERDConcepts for academic use.
We provide no special academic/student licenses just because it is very hard to determine if someone is really a student or not. Documents differ between countries and also to prevent going through a lot of paperwork for everyone involved. But we try to keep the price of the software at such a level that it is affordable for everyone.

General questions

I like to use a ERDConcepts model on my website. May i use the XML model files and screenshots?
You are allowed to use the XML information in the *.hf/*.ecm files and screenshots to generate your own custom reports and tools. Also showing them on your own website is no problem. There is no support however for the XML contents within the ERDConcepts design files. Besides the software there is no copyright on the model files, derived reports and images.
   
I have bought ERD Concepts. I have a serial number how do I convert the trial to a full version?
You first need to download the full version of the software from our website. You can find the url or download link in your registration email. Keep this email in a safe place because you need it to download any future updates.

Technical questions

How do i connect to an Access 2007 (.accdb) database?

You will need the "Microsoft.Ace.OLEDB.12.0" office driver. This is installed with Office 2007. Please visit the Microsoft website for additional information.

Your connection string should look like this:
Provider=Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0;Data Source=<your database>.accdb;Persist Security Info=False
   
I have connected to an Oracle 9i database instance and choose ‘Database->Reverse Engineer...’ menu item. The dialog window is displayed, but the drop down list is empty and nothing happens
Try to connect to a simple database like MsAccess and see if it works.

Most probably you have no read access rights to the meta data of the database. Also make sure you have selected the correct database script in the database connection editor. Default the ADO framework method is used but in your case you need to select Oracle 9i Script
   
When I create a new integer datatype in a table your program by default gives the integer a length of 0.  Can an integer have a length of 0?  Doesn't it have to at least be 1?
The integer length property is optional. If you leave it set to "0" (default),  generated DDL will read "INTEGER" otherwise "INTEGER(11)". This is the same for all other data types, "0" means no length specified. If you set the data type notation to expanded you will notice the difference.
   
How do i connect to a MySQL database?
1. Open ODBC MySQL driver configuration (windows configuration)
2. Enter a datasource name, the required username and password
3. You must select an intial database in this dialog!!!
4. Start ERD Concepts and create a new Database connection
5. Select the OLEDB provider for ODBC drivers
6. Press Next
7. Select the ODBC MySQL datasource you specified earlier
8. Reenter your username and password
9. Don't select an initial catalog!!!
10. Test the connection, it should work now
   
Connecting to a database through ADO fails
Try to connect to a simple database like MsAccess. If that also fails make sure you've have the latest MDAC ADO drivers installed. You can also visit the very useful site http://www.connectionstrings.com
   
I've just downloaded your software and cannot get the reverse engineering feature to work
Make sure you are using the correct database script. You can select this script in the database connection editor. Default the ADO general framework method is used which is very limited in reverse engineering capabilities.
   
Whenever I reverse engineer my database, my datatypes are being swapped (varchar to nvarchar, datetime to timestamp, etc.). How can I prevent this from happening?
In general this happens when you reverse engineer for example a MySQL "database" into a SQL Server "model". You can also have data type translations when you reverse engineer with the database script ADO Framework. In that case you can change the ADO data type settings which you can find under the tool menu.

1. Make sure you use the correct database script (Connection Editor)
2. Make sure you have the correct model (database platform) open
   
When I reverse engineer my existing database in SQL Server views and routines do not have their script populated.  When I try to validate the model I get an error for every view or stored procedure saying that the script definition is empty.
Make sure you are using the correct database script. You can select this script in the database connection editor. Default the ADO general framework method is used which is very limited in reverse engineering capabilities.
   

I added a new page to my ERD and then imported existing tables from the main page. It looks like everything was brought over with the exception of the relationship lines. I can add the lines in manually but it adds another column and relationship. Is there a way to show the lines from the main page?
1. You can copy the relationships from the main page to your new page
Activate the main page and use the right mouse button on the relationship. Select the option <position><Copy to Page>
 
2. In your new page use the add objects dialog
Activate your new page and use the right mouse button anywhere on your model area. Select the option <add model objects>. There you can add the missing relationships.
   
I have been working with a data model for some time now. but when a open a table and go to the trigger tab and try to open an existing trigger ERDConcepts seems to freeze.
* Open the environment settings window, tab "cache"
* Press the clear form cache button to reset all windows to their default position
 
Maybe the trigger window got misplaced somehow and ended outside your desktop boundaries. As each window position is saved after closing. This could cause a problem as you never get to see the dialog while it is active.
 
 
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