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

Enhance your career with this limited time 50% discount on Fabric and Power BI exams. Ends August 31st. Request your voucher.

Reply
fuglphoenix
Frequent Visitor

convert SSAS tabular to Power Bi data model

I hope somebody can help me with this

my goal is to create a composit model with:

  • a datawarehouse (on an SQL server) using import
  • an SQL-server with live data using direct query

currently we have a datawarehouse with a SSAS tabular model. the problem is that it doesn't support composit models. 

as far as i know the only option is to create the data model in pbi, which supports composit models. I've would really like not to start from scratch, since our model is rather big. 

so far i've tried:

  • created a PBI embedded instance and deployed our tabular model there. I hoped i could then download the pbix and further develope the model in pbi desktop. but that returns an error. I think that is because, although they look the same, the pbixmodel schema and SSAStabular schema is incompatible.
  • convert my current tabular model to direct query. but that is not feasible because of the extra load on the dwh, and the restrictions on the DAX forumla you can use.

is there any way to convert the .bim to a .pbix other than manual labour?

or is there another way I could accomplish my goal?

2 REPLIES 2
v-lionel-msft
Community Support
Community Support

Hi @fuglphoenix ,

 

Power BI has three connection methods.

Only Import and Direct Query support composite models.

In other words, if you use Live Connection mode to connect to SSAS, you cannot use the composite model.

(Direct Query mode is different from Live Connection mode, SSAS can only use Live Connection.)

Use composite models in Power BI Desktop 

 

So for your problem, if you want to use composite models unless you import the model.

i6.PNG

 

Best regards,
Lionel Chen

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

 

@v-lionel-msft 

yes, i'm aware of that, that is why i'm trying to abandon our old SSAS model and create a new datamodel (directly in pbi) with an import-connection to our dwh (an sql-server) and an direct query-connection to the live feed. 

but the ssas model is rather big, and i would love to avoid having to create alle the measures and dependencies again. 

sorry if my question wasn't clear. 

Helpful resources

Announcements
July PBI25 Carousel

Power BI Monthly Update - July 2025

Check out the July 2025 Power BI update to learn about new features.

Join our Fabric User Panel

Join our Fabric User Panel

This is your chance to engage directly with the engineering team behind Fabric and Power BI. Share your experiences and shape the future.

June 2025 community update carousel

Fabric Community Update - June 2025

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