User guide

Start in your browser

Open the editor. No account is needed. Your diagrams stay in this browser only, so clearing the site's data removes them. Sign in to save diagrams to your account, share them and use the paid features.

Not sure where to begin? Browse the templates and open one as a starting point.

Design a schema

• Choose your database. Pick PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB or SQLite when you create a diagram. You can convert a diagram to another database later; you get a report of what changes.
• Add a table. Use the Table button, or right-click the canvas and choose Add table here. Then add columns, set types, keys and defaults in the side panel.
• Connect tables. Drag from one column to another to make a relationship.
• Organise. Group tables with areas, leave notes, and use Arrange tables from the canvas menu to tidy the layout. Fit diagram to screen shows everything at once.
• Find things fast. Press Ctrl+K (or ⌘K on a Mac) to search commands and tables. Ctrl+F (⌘F) searches the canvas, and Ctrl+\ (⌘\) shows or hides the side panel.
• Undo anything. Ctrl+Z (⌘Z) undoes and Ctrl+Y (⇧⌘Z) redoes. Copy, paste and duplicate work on tables.
• Check your design. A problem count appears in the toolbar when something looks wrong, such as a table without a primary key. Open it to see what and where.

Save, import and export

Signed in, a new diagram is saved to the cloud as you work, and syncs across your devices. Look for Saved to cloud at the top of the editor.

• Import brings in SQL, DBML or a live database's schema. Choose Add to this diagram to merge it into the one you have open.
• Export gives you SQL, DBML, JSON or an image (SVG), and ORM code for the models in your diagram.
• Migrations. Compare versions of a diagram to get the SQL that moves a database from one to the other.

Import and export need a saved diagram. In the browser-only editor, sign in and save first.

Share and work together

• Use Share to invite people by email as viewers or editors. Diagrams are private until you share them.
• Editors work together live, with cursors you can follow. Comment on a table to start a conversation.
• History keeps earlier versions so you can look back and restore one.
• In a team workspace, members who can edit a team's diagrams can also share them.

Connect an AI assistant (MCP)

MCP lets an assistant such as Claude, Cursor or VS Code read your diagrams and change the ones you can edit. Changes appear live in any editor you have open, and a snapshot is kept before each one so you can go back.

You need a plan that includes assistants (Pro AI or Team), and a diagram saved to your account. The address to add is:

https://designdb.online/api/mcp

1. Add DesignDB to your assistant

• Claude: Settings → Connectors → Add custom connector, then paste the address.
• Claude Code: run claude mcp add --transport http designdb https://designdb.online/api/mcp
• Cursor and VS Code: add an MCP server of type HTTP and paste the address.

2. Sign in

The first time, the assistant sends you to DesignDB. Sign in if you are not already, review what it is asking for, and choose Allow. There is no key to copy. The assistant only ever sees your cloud diagrams, and the same sharing rules apply as in the editor.

3. Ask for what you need

Try prompts such as:

• “List my DesignDB diagrams.”
• “Create a diagram for a shop with customers, orders and products.”
• “Add an index on orders.customer_id in ‘Shop’.”
• “Check the design of ‘Shop’ and fix the problems.”
• “Write a migration for the latest changes, and export the models for Prisma.”

An assistant can list and read diagrams, create them, change them with SQL (CREATE, ALTER and DROP), rename them, convert them to another database, arrange the canvas, check the design, list versions, write migrations and export ORM code.

Managing and disconnecting

Open Account → AI assistants to see what is connected, when it was last used, and this month's assistant calls. Choose Disconnect to end an assistant's access at once. Signing out everywhere ends it too.

If an assistant says it can't connect, check that the address ends in /api/mcp and that your plan includes assistants. If it still fails, tell us on the feedback page.

Show a diagram in Confluence

On the Team plan, the DesignDB macro shows a diagram, read only, on a Confluence page. People who can see the page see the diagram, with or without a DesignDB account, and can zoom and pan.

• In DesignDB, open the diagram and choose Share, then Embed in Confluence, and create a key. Copy it; it is shown once.
• On the Confluence page, type /DesignDB diagram to insert the macro, paste the key, and choose Show this diagram.
• A key is tied to the one Confluence site that first uses it. Revoke it in the same Share dialog to stop access.

Plans and limits

A free account includes 3 cloud diagrams, 50 tables per diagram, and 10 imports and 10 exports per diagram. Pro removes those limits and adds version history, sharing and comments. Assistants come with Pro AI and Team, and the Confluence macro with Team. See pricing for the full comparison.

Get help

Found a bug or want a feature? Use the feedback form. For billing or account problems, see contact.