Forum Discussion
Impactful Individualpower bi report based on multiple semantic models
You can use more than one Power BI semantic model in a single report, but there are two different scenarios:
1. Same report with multiple models,
You can connect to Model A and Model B and use visuals from both in one PBIX. However, the models stay separate: you generally can’t relate tables across them, and slicers/filters from one model usually won’t filter visuals from the other model.
2. Truly combining models,
You may be able to use a composite model (DirectQuery for semantic models) to add a second model and create relationships/combined measures. This depends on tenant settings and can introduce limitations such as performance, restricted modeling features, and more sensitivity to changes in the upstream models.You will need permission to all underlying semantic models. If upstream models change (rename/remove fields), your report can break. Also, cross-model filtering and “single set of slicers” is not automatic unless you implement an integration approach.
If your end goal is a single, consistent reporting experience, the most reliable approach is usually to build a combined semantic model upstream and then build reports from that one model.
Super UserThis is possible. First, make sure the current PBIX file already contains data, then connect to the semantic models using DirectQuery.
To use measures from different semantic models together, there must be a shared (common) dimension between them. That common dimension should be used in the visual (e.g., in the table) so the measures can align correctly across models.
Also note that RLS and permissions are still enforced from the source semantic models. If a user doesn’t have access to a specific semantic model, the visuals that rely on it won’t return data (or may show an error), while the rest of the report can still load normally.