Welcome Screen

The Welcome Screen is your starting point in DbSchema. From here you can connect to an existing database, start a new design from scratch, open a SQL file, or reopen a project you previously saved.

Start a New Project

Connect to a Database

Choose from over 80 supported SQL and NoSQL databases — local, remote, or cloud-hosted. Once connected, DbSchema reverse-engineers your schema and builds a visual design model saved as a .dbs file (XML, fully independent of the database).

While connected you get two-way sync: changes you make in the model can be applied to the database, and changes in the database can be pulled back into the model. You can also disconnect and continue designing offline, then reconnect later and review all differences in the synchronization dialog before committing anything.

Use this when you already have a database and want diagrams, documentation, or team collaboration via Git.

Learn more about setting up connections.

Design from Scratch (Pro)

Start a new schema without any database connection. Create tables, add columns, and connect them with foreign keys — entirely offline.

When you are ready, deploy the design to a real database (MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, and many others). Your work is saved as a .dbs XML file that can be version-controlled and shared with your team via Git.

Use this when you are planning a new project or prototyping before building the actual database.

Learn more about logical design.

Open SQL File

Open an existing SQL file directly in the SQL Editor. Optionally parse it into a visual diagram so DbSchema extracts tables, columns, and foreign keys and displays the structure as diagrams.

Use this when you have a DDL script and want to visualise or edit it without a live database connection.

Reopen Project from File

Pick up exactly where you left off by reopening a previously saved .dbs project file. All schema structure, diagrams, and editor state are restored — no database connection required.

Try It Now

Open one of the bundled sample models to explore DbSchema without setting up a database. The samples include a larger schema so you can see how diagrams look at scale. You can also connect to a local SQLite database (no server setup needed) to test all Pro features during your free trial.

Learn

Quick Tour

A guided walkthrough of DbSchema's key features — schema design, the design model, data exploration, the query builder, and documentation generation. Ideal if you are new and want a fast interactive overview.

Documentation

The documentation covers every feature in DbSchema. If you need help, visit the Support Page to manage licenses, request technical support, report issues, or extend your evaluation period.

Watch Videos

Step-by-step video tutorials covering connections, SQL, diagrams, and more. A good choice if you prefer visual explanations.