LangStop

Filters & Right Sidebar | ERD Generator Docs

As your database grows, ER diagrams can quickly become dense and overwhelming.
Filters & Views help you stay focused by letting you instantly hide, show, and narrow down what you see — without changing your actual schema.

This feature is designed to reduce visual clutter, improve understanding, and speed up everyday workflows.

🔍 Why Filters & Views Matter

Large schemas often include:

  • Dozens (or hundreds) of tables
  • Multiple feature modules
  • Legacy or unused entities

Filters & Views allow you to:

  • Focus on what matters right now
  • Explore one feature at a time
  • Present clean diagrams to teammates or stakeholders

All without deleting or modifying anything.

🧭 Where to Find Filters

Filters are available in the right-hand sidebar of the ERD Generator.

Look for the Filter & View call-to-action (CTA) to open the controls panel.

This sidebar works alongside your diagram, so changes are reflected instantly.

🏷️ Filter Tables by Name

Quickly locate specific tables using the table name filter.

How it works:

  • Start typing a table name
  • Matching tables remain visible
  • Non-matching tables are temporarily hidden

This is ideal when:

  • Searching large schemas
  • Jumping between related tables
  • Debugging or reviewing specific entities

No scrolling. No zooming. Just type and focus.

👁️ Toggle Table Visibility

Each table can be shown or hidden individually.

Use this when you want to:

  • Hide unrelated tables
  • Compare specific parts of the schema
  • Prepare a clean diagram for screenshots or reviews

Hidden tables are not deleted — they are simply out of view and can be restored anytime.

🧩 Combine Multiple Filters

Filters work together seamlessly.

For example, you can:

  • Search by table name
  • Hide supporting or reference tables
  • Focus only on core domain entities

This layered approach makes even very large ERDs manageable.

🧠 Views: Think in Contexts

Views are about how you look at your schema, not how it’s stored.

Use Filters & Views to create mental (or visual) contexts like:

  • Authentication module
  • Billing system
  • Reporting layer
  • Migration or refactor scope

Switching focus becomes effortless.

🧹 Reduce Diagram Clutter Instantly

When diagrams feel noisy:

  • Open the Filters sidebar
  • Hide non-essential tables
  • Narrow the visible scope

This instantly improves:

  • Readability
  • Layout clarity
  • Relationship understanding

Perfect for presentations, reviews, and onboarding.

🔄 Nothing Is Permanent

All filters and visibility changes are:

  • Non-destructive
  • Fully reversible
  • Local to your current view

You’re always working with the complete schema — just looking at it differently.

💡 Best Practices

  • Use filters before rearranging layouts
  • Hide tables instead of deleting them
  • Create focused views for each feature or domain
  • Reset filters when switching tasks

🚀 When to Use Filters & Views

  • Large or legacy databases
  • Feature-based exploration
  • Code reviews and walkthroughs
  • Schema audits and refactors
  • Clean exports or screenshots

✅ Summary

Filters & Views give you control over complexity.

Instead of fighting clutter, you shape the diagram to match your current goal — quickly, safely, and visually.

If your schema feels overwhelming, start with filters.