Forum Discussion
Fabric - semantic model - refresh
I found the issue
I had one view in the warehouse with two columns having identical names where one of them had a capital letter
I tried to refresh the warehouse from fabric gui and received the duplicate column name error message
It is fully possible (at least from sql endpoint) to create a view with two columns names aa and Aa for example. However its not supported in semantic models and semabtic model will not give you an indication of this issue
I think I will recommend to create a support ticket https://support.fabric.microsoft.com
Also, I think there are two separate concepts here:
- Edit the schema of the model ("Edit Tables"). https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/fabric/get-started/direct-lake-edit-tables
- Refresh the data content. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/fabric/get-started/direct-lake-overview#refresh
I believe the first one is the cause of your issues?
The latter can be done automatically, in that case there would be no need for your users to refresh.
Perhaps you will find your issue listed as a Known issue here: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/fabric/get-started/fabric-known-issues#currently-active-known-issues
Similar topics:
Using Tabular Editor to edit semantic models may be an alternative.
Or using Power BI desktop (import mode).
Are you using Lakehouse or Warehouse?
Anyway, using views is bad for performance in direct lake semantic models. Views make the report queries fall back to DirectQuery (which has lower performance than Direct Lake). So the recommendation is to use tables, not views, if you wish to use Direct Lake mode.
Thanks for getting back
My biggest issue rigth now is the first one ("Edit tables")
I use Warehouse as a source but there is a mix of tables (warehouse) and views (sourced from delta tables in lakehouse). I am aware about the direct lake functionality and I will soon only have tables in Warehouse as source. However, the semantic edit table refresh shoudl still work (pick up the updated model from warehouse).
I will create a support ticket.
Can you please guide me on how I do that or send me a more specific link? What permission do I need?
I don't have experience with it, but I think scroll down to Power BI -> Get customer support https://support.fabric.microsoft.com
I think you should also check with IT / Microsoft 365 Admin in your organization to see if you have some special considerations regarding support tickets, how much data you can share with the MS support personnel, etc.
I think the issue you are encountering is a known issue and current workarounds seem to be to use Tabular Editor or Power BI Desktop (import mode).
thanks
Import mode works but I need to create a general model that van be used for mutiplöe reports and be consumed directly from excel. Can you acheive this with Power BI Desktop?
regarding tabular editor - can ypou publish a semantic model or a general model from that tool?I think any semantic model is a general model.
You can create multiple reports with live connection to any semantic model.
I also think you can connect Excel to any semantic model.
This is possible for Power BI Desktop (import mode) semantic models, but the semantic model needs to be published to the web service before you can create new reports connected to the model or connect to the model from Excel.
Here's how to do it: you create a model (actually you need to create a report) in Power BI desktop, then you publish this report with it's model to the web service. This way the model becomes available to create other reports connected to this model, or connect to the model from Excel.
Obviously, there are sharing and governance questions regarding this, so be sure to read up on and understand topics like sharing of power bi models/reports, power bi access control and permissions, analyze in excel.
With tabular editor you can also create, edit and publish a semantic model. It can not be used to create a report.
Power BI desktop is used for creating report+model. It's not possible to create a model without report in Power BI desktop. So you will need to create a report (it could be empty) and it means you create a model at the same time. This is a bit unintuitive. However in order to create a model in Power BI desktop, you will need to create a report (it could be blank). When you publish the Power BI Desktop report+model to the web service, other reports and Excel can connect to the model which is hosted in the web service. I think Power BI desktop is a quite easy tool to use.