All of our data modeling tools allow you to define aliases of data types that can be used instead of standard data types. The advantage is that such a data type can be added to a diagram, the diagram can include a line pointing to the object where the data type alias is used, and if you decide to change, for example, a data type parameter, you can do so in only one place.
Datatype aliases can also be used for e.g. definition of autoincrements, datatypes with default values etc. More information can be found in the following articles
- How to add an identity column to SQL Server database design
- Setting default values for columns in SQL Server
How to create a datatype alias?
Click the Other button on the main toolbar, choose Add Datatype alias and then click anywhere in the diagram.
Alternate solution: Right click on the diagram canvas and choose Add new object -> Datatype alias. Then click anywhere in the diagram again.
Specify Name for the data type alias and Definition in the side panel.
How to use the newly defined custom data types?
Select the datatype alias from the datatype dropdown.
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