Database design path

I'm working on a project at the moment that requires quite a complex database. I think its good practice to completely finish the database design before starting on the coding. Are there any good tools around for the database design?

What database you will use?

Since it's all web-based and my current hosting plan comes with MySQL I guess thats what I'll have to use

Then you should use phpMyAdmin. It is a great tool

www.phpmyadmin.net

I'm already using phpMyAdmin for my db administration, what I'm looking for is a tool to create a database design with visual database maps where you can see how the different tables relate to each other.

Oh. For this work I use a very tradditional tool, a pencil and a piece of paper :)

But I suppose that you need something more complex than that.

Try to search for a UML tool like rational rose. It is used for other things, but it will help you with the task you want to.

I normaly use pencil and paper for this, but I now have to create a very big and complex database which will need a different tool (hmm maybe I have to get one of these really big pencils...  ;D)
Is there anything like rational rose but free?

Wow that's a really big pencil :)

There are some free UML programs listed here but I can't tell which is the best as I have never used any of them.

you might also consider PgSQL, its meant for more complex DB's. also theres a pgMyAdmin i think or something like myadmin for pg.

Thanks! I'll check some of them out