How do I generate a SQL script from my diagram in MySQL Workbench?

sql

sql-scripting

mysql-workbench

database-design

byAlex Kataev·Dec 15, 2024

To export your visual database diagram to a SQL script, perform the following steps:

Open the model in MySQL Workbench.
Navigate to Database menu -> Forward Engineer.
In the export wizard, be sure to tick 'Generate INSERT Statements' if you want to include any dummy data.
On reaching the Review SQL Script phase, you can either copy or export the generated SQL.

For instance:

-- 'You talkin' to me? Well, I'm the only one here. Who do you think you're talkin' to? Oh, it's just SQL...'
CREATE TABLE `my_table` (
  `id` INT PRIMARY KEY AUTO_INCREMENT, -- Auto increment, because manual counting is so overrated
  `name` VARCHAR(45) -- Who doesn't love characters, up to 45 of 'em!
);

This will generate the SQL script to turn your perfect little Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD) into a functional database. Before embarking on this journey, make sure to check all your tables, relationships and diagram elements in the ERD are proper.

In-depth steps and pointers

Turn your ERD into an executable SQL script with these additional checks and measures:

Pre-Export Checks

Double-check important elements before moving forward with the export:

Each table needs a primary key.
The relationships are not just for show, make sure the foreign key linkages are in place.
Set the data types for each column with precision.
Create indices for frequently accessed columns.

Common road bumps and their detours

Some common issues you might face and their solutions:

Missing indexes could slow down your data access.
An incorrect cardinality might break the integrity of your data.
Make sure you select the right data types to avoid data degradation or performance glitches.

The road less traveled: Advanced export

For the brave and the bold, advanced features enable automation with CLI interfaces and scripting. This not only makes you look cool but also facilitates integration with version control systems like Git.