Open .PBISM file in Power BI Desktop

[Mary_Kelsch]

We implemented Git Integration with Power BI.  The sync process turned the semantic model .pbix files into a folder with a definition.pbism file along with other files/folders inside.  We are unable to open the definition.pbism file in Power BI Desktop to edit the semantic model because currently PBI Desktop does not support .pbism files.

Since the purpose of integrating PBI with Git is so we can store the source code in Git, we would like to be able to operate from the files generated by the integration process directly.  Even though it is an option to download the semantic model from the service, we will not be able to download any previous versions of the object.  Git, being a source code and version control tool, allows us to revert to an earlier version and be able to work from that version when needed.  Not being able to open the .PBISM file from the PBI Desktop prevents us from taking advantage of the full benefit of the Git Integration.

[v-venuppu]

Hi @Mary_Kelsch ,

I hope this information is helpful. Please let me know if you have any further questions or if you'd like to discuss this further. If this answers your question, please accept it as a solution and give it a 'Kudos' so other community members with similar problems can find a solution faster.

Thank you.

[GilbertHall]

You can't open a .pbism file in Power BI Desktop. This file format is used in the Power BI Service as part of Microsoft Fabric and isn't supported by Desktop. To work with it locally, you'll need access to the original .pbix file or rebuild the model manually.

[v-venuppu]

Hi @Mary_Kelsch ,

I wanted to check if you had the opportunity to review the information provided. Please feel free to contact us if you have any further questions. If the response has addressed your query, please accept it as a solution and give a 'Kudos' so other members can easily find it.

Thank you.

[v-venuppu]

Hi @Mary_Kelsch ,

Thank you @MFelix for the prompt response.

May I ask if you have resolved this issue? If so, please mark the helpful reply and accept it as the solution. This will be helpful for other community members who have similar problems to solve it faster.

Thank you.

[MFelix]

Hi @Mary_Kelsch,

When you store the files in PBI project has you refer stores the data in different folder the PBISM file that you refer is a text file that can be open by any text editor, however in order to connect properly to the Power BI you need to open it trough the PBIP file stored in the main folder.

The best option for this is to use for example Visual Studio Code that will allow you to open the folder struture and then make all the changes you need to your semantic model:

Has you can see in the image I have entered a specific table inside the semantic model.

With the GIT integration you can copy any file from your semantic model or report and replace in the version if you have problems you just need to store it in the correct folder.

Be aware that when you make changes programatically to your model when you open the Power BI it will ask for a refresh.

Check the documentation about the folders and the files https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/developer/projects/projects-dataset#tmdl-format

[Mary_Kelsch]

Hi @MFelix 

The Power BI developers typically use PBI Desktop to edit semantic models and reports.  VSCode or any other text editor do not provide the same functionalities that PBI Desktop natively offers.

[MFelix · Accepted solution]

Hi @Mary_Kelsch,

You are correct in what you refer, the use of the new TMDL option opens up the way we interact with the Semantic Model.

In the case you refer has I previously said you need to use the PBIP file, however for the GIT and CI/CD you can always get the files from the dataset folder to replace any file that you may need to revert or add changes that other users did, this can be done using the GIT integration functionalities that are available in several tools (VS, DevOps, GIT) or just simply by copy pasting the files directly to the local folder where you have your PBIP file.

Another option that you can also use if needed is the new TMDL view that alllows you to copy scripts from your tables and add them directly using Power BI desktop this is a very powerfull way of also updating your semantic model with coding options.

In this case you just need to drag and drop the table on the data panel to the TMDL view and you get the script that you can then copy paste to any other Power BI.

This feature is great because it also works with all the PBI formats not only project.

https://powerbi.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/deep-dive-into-tmdl-view-for-power-bi-desktop-preview/?cdn=...

If I was not clear in terms of can be done or not with PBIP and TMDL view, please let me know and I can try and rephrase the points that I was not very explicit.