Quick Setup & Installation | ERD Generator Docs

Getting started with ERD Generator is intentionally frictionless.
There is no installation, no signup, and no configuration required.

If your browser supports modern JavaScript, you are ready to build ER diagrams in seconds.

Zero Installation Philosophy

ERD Generator is a fully browser-based application.

• ❌ No downloads
• ❌ No plugins
• ❌ No local setup
• ❌ No environment configuration

All processing happens directly in your browser, making it ideal for quick exploration, design sessions, and production-ready workflows.

Browser Requirements

ERD Generator works best on modern, evergreen browsers with JavaScript enabled.

Supported Browsers

• Chrome (recommended)
• Edge
• Firefox
• Safari

Recommended

• Latest stable browser version
• JavaScript enabled
• Screen width ≥ 1024px for best canvas experience

💡 Mobile browsers are supported for viewing, but complex editing is best done on desktop.

Recommended Settings for Best Experience

To get the most out of ERD Generator:

• Enable hardware acceleration in your browser
• Use a mouse or trackpad for canvas interactions
• Prefer dark mode or light mode based on ambient lighting
• Keep zoom at 100% for accurate layout positioning

These settings ensure smooth dragging, zooming, and layout transitions.

Create Your First Workspace (Under 30 Seconds)

Workspaces help you organize schemas by project, team, or environment.

Steps

1. Open ERD Generator
2. Click New Workspace
3. Enter a name (e.g. Ecommerce Schema)
4. Start designing immediately

Each workspace can contain multiple folders, files, and diagrams.

Create Your First Diagram (Under 2 Minutes)

You can start in two ways depending on your workflow.

Option 1: Start from SQL (Recommended)

If you already have a SQL schema:

1. Open SQL → DBML Converter
2. Paste your SQL script
3. Review the generated DBML
4. Instantly view the ER diagram on the canvas

This is the fastest way to visualize existing databases.

Option 2: Start from DBML

Prefer schema-as-code?

1. Create a new DBML file
2. Define tables and relationships
3. Watch the diagram update in real time

DBML remains the single source of truth.

Navigating the Interface

Canvas

• Drag and reposition tables
• Zoom and pan freely
• Select multiple tables
• Auto-align using layout engines

Layout Options

Choose layouts based on clarity:

• Left → Right
• Top → Bottom
• Force Directed
• Grid

Use Fit to Screen to instantly center everything.

Tabs, Folders & Multitasking

ERD Generator is designed for real-world scale.

• Multiple Tabs – work on several diagrams at once
• Folders – organize schemas logically
• Workspaces – separate projects or domains cleanly

This makes it easy to manage both small and complex systems.

Keyboard Shortcuts (Highly Recommended)

Speed up your workflow with shortcuts:

• Ctrl / Cmd + S – Save
• Ctrl / Cmd + B – Emphasis
• Ctrl / Cmd + Q – Command palette
• Ctrl / Cmd + 0 – Fit to screen

👉 Click the Help icon anytime to see the full list.

Visual Customization (Optional but Powerful)

You can personalize diagrams for clarity or presentation:

• Multiple table themes
• Light & dark friendly palettes
• Custom background colors
• Grid or dot background patterns

These settings help diagrams stay readable in reviews and documentation.

Export & Continue Working

Once ready, you can:

• Export diagrams as PNG / JPG
• Export DBML
• Convert DBML back to SQL

No data lock-in. Your schema stays portable.

Summary

• No installation required
• Works instantly in your browser
• Create a workspace and diagram in under 2 minutes
• Scales from quick drafts to production systems

You’re now ready to move from setup to building.