- Open a schema diagram by double-clicking the schema (or its Tables node) in the Connections view; for one table, open it and switch to the Diagram tab.
- Diagrams are read-only by default. Edit mode, which turns diagram changes into an SQL script, is available in Enterprise and Ultimate only, not in Community or Lite.
- Custom diagrams let you combine tables from several connections and draw relationships, which DBeaver stores as virtual foreign keys without touching the database.
- Diagrams export as SVG, PNG, GIF, BMP or GraphML, and can be printed.
What a DBeaver ER diagram can and cannot do
A DBeaver ER diagram is generated from the tables, columns and foreign keys that already exist in a database. DBeaver describes diagrams as a way to explore structure, analyse relationships between tables and navigate complex schemas. You can rearrange and colour the tables, add notes, change the notation and export the result.
What the free Community Edition does not do is design a database in the diagram. Diagrams are read-only by default, and the edit mode that creates tables, columns and foreign keys from the canvas is documented as an Enterprise and Ultimate feature. The edition comparison also lists ERD edit mode as unavailable in Lite. If you want to design visually in Community, the documented route is to create tables with SQL or the table editor, then refresh the diagram.
| Feature | Community | Lite | Enterprise and Ultimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| View diagrams of tables and schemas | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Custom diagrams across connections | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| IDEF1X and Crow's Foot notation | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bachman notation, orthogonal routing | No | No | Yes |
| Edit mode (create tables and foreign keys, generate SQL) | No | No | Yes |
| Export to SVG, PNG, GIF, BMP, GraphML | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Step 1: open an ER diagram for a schema or table
If you have no database to practise on, DBeaver can create a sample SQLite database based on Chinook: choose Help, Create Sample Base. Otherwise use any connection, for example one set up with our PostgreSQL connection guide.
- Whole schema: in the Connections view, double-click the schema name, or the node above the tables in the path (usually Tables). The editor that opens has a Diagram tab.
- One table or view: double-click the table or view to open the Database Object Editor, then switch to its Diagram tab.
- From any table on a diagram, the context menu item View Diagram opens a new diagram focused on that table and its related objects.
Step 2: arrange and customise the diagram
Use the Select tool from the Palette panel. Clicking a column highlights related keys and connections; clicking a relationship highlights the linked tables and key columns. Then adjust the view:
- Layout: drag tables, or choose Arrange Diagram (auto-arrange) from the toolbar or context menu. Turn on Keep layout to save the layout locally; otherwise it resets when you reopen the editor.
- Notation and routing: right-click empty canvas and choose Notation or Router. IDEF1X is the default notation and Crow's Foot is available in every edition; Bachman notation and orthogonal paths are documented for Enterprise, Ultimate and Team editions only.
- Columns: Show Attributes chooses between all columns, any keys, primary key only or none; View Styles toggles icons, data types, nullability, comments and fully qualified names.
- Colour and notes: Set color on a table groups related objects; choose Note from the palette to annotate.
- Search: press Ctrl+F to highlight matching tables and columns.
Global defaults (for example whether views or partitions appear, and the default notation) are in Window, Preferences, Editors, Diagram Editor.
Step 3: build a custom diagram
A custom diagram is a separate canvas saved in your project. Create one with File, New, then DBeaver, ER Diagram, or right-click the Diagrams node in the Project Explorer and choose Create New Diagram. Name it and optionally pick starting tables.
Drag tables from the Connections view onto the canvas, including tables from different connections and database types; DBeaver's example combines Oracle and MySQL tables. To draw a relationship for documentation, choose Connection from the palette, click the source table, then the target, and select the columns. DBeaver stores these relationships as virtual foreign keys, and changes in a custom diagram never modify the database. Custom diagrams can only contain existing database objects, and edit mode is not available for them.
Step 4: export the diagram, and edit mode in paid editions
To export, choose Save diagram as from the diagram toolbar or context menu and pick SVG, PNG, GIF, BMP or GraphML. SVG is a vector format, so it suits documentation that needs to scale. The toolbar also has a Print action.
In Enterprise and Ultimate, the Edit Mode button switches the diagram to schema editing. Right-click the canvas and choose Create New Table, or right-click a table and choose Create, Foreign Key. Changes are not applied automatically: Save shows the generated SQL script for review before it runs, and Revert discards unsaved changes. Relationships created in edit mode are real database constraints, unlike those in custom diagrams.
Frequently asked questions
Is the DBeaver ER diagram free?
Yes. Viewing, arranging, exporting and building custom diagrams work in the free Community Edition. Only edit mode (designing tables in the diagram) and a few display options need Enterprise or Ultimate.
Can DBeaver create a database from an ER diagram?
Only in edit mode, which DBeaver documents for Enterprise and Ultimate. Edit mode generates an SQL script that you review and run. In Community, create the tables with SQL or the table editor, then open the diagram.
How do I export a DBeaver ER diagram as an image?
Use Save diagram as on the diagram toolbar and choose PNG, SVG, GIF, BMP or GraphML.
Why does my DBeaver diagram show no relationship lines?
Diagrams draw relationships from foreign keys. If the tables have no foreign key constraints, no lines appear. For documentation, a custom diagram lets you add virtual relationships without changing the database.
Can I change the notation to Crow's Foot?
Yes. Right-click empty canvas, choose Notation and select Crow's Foot, or set the default notation in the Diagram Editor preferences.
Sources
- DBeaver docs: Diagrams
- DBeaver docs: How to use diagrams
- DBeaver docs: Custom diagrams
- DBeaver docs: Edit mode
- DBeaver docs: Create sample database
- DBeaver: Compare editions
Checked 8 October 2026.
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