---
title: Open Database Diagram Designer
ms.custom: seo-lt-2019
ms.date: 01/19/2017
ms.prod: sql
ms.prod_service: sql-tools
ms.technology: ssms
ms.topic: conceptual
helpviewer_keywords: 
  - "opening Database Diagram Designer"
  - "Database Diagram Designer"
  - "database diagrams [SQL Server], Database Diagram Designer"
  - "diagrams [SQL Server], Database Diagram Designer"
ms.assetid: 9427c418-1e2f-464f-8a6c-9109f053e832
author: markingmyname
ms.author: maghan
ms.manager: jroth
ms.reviewer: 
---
# Open Database Diagram Designer (Visual Database Tools)
[!INCLUDE[appliesto-ss-asdb-asdw-pdw-md](../../includes/appliesto-ss-asdb-asdw-pdw-md.md)]
The Database Diagram Designer is a visual tool that allows you to design and visualize a database to which you are connected. When designing a database, you can use Database Designer to create, edit, or delete tables, columns, keys, indexes, relationships, and constraints. To visualize a database, you can create one or more diagrams illustrating some or all of the tables, columns, keys, and relationships in it.  
  
You can open Database Diagram Designer by opening a new or existing diagram.  
  
### Open a new database diagram  
  
1.  Right-click the Database Diagrams node of your database in Object Explorer.  
  
2.  From the drop-down menu, click **New Database Diagram**.  
  
3.  In the **Add Table** dialog box, choose tables to work with in the diagram.  
  
    > [!NOTE]  
    > If you choose **Close** without adding tables, you can go back and add tables later.  
  
4.  The **Database Diagram** menu will be added to the main menu and the designer pane will open.  
  
### Open an existing database diagram  
  
1.  Right-click the diagram under the Database Diagrams node of your database in Object Explorer.  
  
2.  From the drop-down menu, click **Design Database Diagram**.  
  
3.  The **Database Diagram** menu will be added to the main menu and the diagram will open in the designer pane.  
  
## See Also  
[Design Database Diagrams (Visual Database Tools)](../../ssms/visual-db-tools/design-database-diagrams-visual-database-tools.md)