Skip to main content
cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

Get certified in Microsoft Fabric—for free! For a limited time, the Microsoft Fabric Community team will be offering free DP-600 exam vouchers. Prepare now

Reply
Winds
Microsoft Employee
Microsoft Employee

Fabric - Create semantic model with existing tables via Microsoft Fabric API

Hi Everyone,

I’m currently exploring the Microsoft Fabric API, specifically the Items - Create Semantic Model REST API (SemanticModel) as detailed on Microsoft Learn. Items - Create Semantic Model - REST API (SemanticModel) | Microsoft Learn

 

Scenario:
We already have several tables in a Lakehouse within a Central Fabric workspace. These tables are shortcuts linked to files in ADLS Gen2 via shortcuts. The goal is to first create a Lakehouse containing these tables in a PPE (Pre-Production Environment) workspace dedicated to semantic models. Following that, we need to create a semantic model based on these tables.

I found that the first step can be completed using the CreateLakehouse and CreateTableshortcut APIs. However, for the second step, I haven’t been able to locate an API that allows the creation of a semantic model based on existing tables in the Lakehouse. It seems we can pass a semantic model definition, but it doesn’t appear to specifically reference a Lakehouse and its tables—it uses a base64-encoded payload instead.

Winds_0-1727675106831.png

 

My questions are:

  1. How can I create a semantic model using existing tables in an existing Lakehouse through the Fabric API?
  2. I’ve noticed that I cannot retrieve the semantic model definition when it contains a sensitivity label, even though I am an Admin of the workspace. How can this issue be resolved?

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

Thank you in advance!

2 ACCEPTED SOLUTIONS
v-rzhou-msft
Community Support
Community Support

Hi @Winds ,

 

Do you want to create a semantic model with data from Lakehouse?

As far as I know, currently Power BI doesn't support us to achieve this goal directly.
I suggest you to create a Dataflow in Power BI Service and then create a semantic model by this Dataflow. The Lakehouse connector is a beta connector. And we need to create dataflow manually.

For reference:

Power Query Lakehouse (Beta) connector - Power Query | Microsoft Learn

Where to get data - Power Query | Microsoft Learn

 

If you want to learn more about sensitivity label, please refer to this blog: Sensitivity labels from Microsoft Purview Information Protection in Power BI - Power BI | Microsoft ....

 

Best Regards,
Rico Zhou

 

If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.

 

View solution in original post

Hi @Winds ,

 

As far as I know, for the time being, there is only support for manually selecting a Table to create a Semantic Model. The ability to use the REST API to achieve this effect should not be pushed.

 

Best Regards,
Rico Zhou

 

If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.

 

 

View solution in original post

3 REPLIES 3
v-rzhou-msft
Community Support
Community Support

Hi @Winds ,

 

Do you want to create a semantic model with data from Lakehouse?

As far as I know, currently Power BI doesn't support us to achieve this goal directly.
I suggest you to create a Dataflow in Power BI Service and then create a semantic model by this Dataflow. The Lakehouse connector is a beta connector. And we need to create dataflow manually.

For reference:

Power Query Lakehouse (Beta) connector - Power Query | Microsoft Learn

Where to get data - Power Query | Microsoft Learn

 

If you want to learn more about sensitivity label, please refer to this blog: Sensitivity labels from Microsoft Purview Information Protection in Power BI - Power BI | Microsoft ....

 

Best Regards,
Rico Zhou

 

If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.

 

Thank you so much! @v-rzhou-msft 

 

Just want to confirm, What we want to do is creating semantic model based on the existing table shortcut in LakeHouse.

1. In Fabric LakeHouse, "New Semantic Model"

Winds_0-1728415145118.png

 

2. Create semantic model with the selected table in specific workspace. (TestFabricWP in the picture)

Winds_2-1728415543103.png

 

We aim to automate this process using the FabricAPI. Is this currently possible, or could it be in the future?

If not, is there a way to achieve this goal while minimizing manual work?

Hi @Winds ,

 

As far as I know, for the time being, there is only support for manually selecting a Table to create a Semantic Model. The ability to use the REST API to achieve this effect should not be pushed.

 

Best Regards,
Rico Zhou

 

If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.

 

 

Helpful resources

Announcements
Las Vegas 2025

Join us at the Microsoft Fabric Community Conference

March 31 - April 2, 2025, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Use code MSCUST for a $150 discount! Early Bird pricing ends December 9th.

Nov PBI Update Carousel

Power BI Monthly Update - November 2024

Check out the November 2024 Power BI update to learn about new features.

October NL Carousel

Fabric Community Update - October 2024

Find out what's new and trending in the Fabric Community.