Mac users, rejoice — semantic model editing in the Power BI service is now generally available, bringing core modeling capabilities to the web.
Create New Semantic Models in the Web
You can now create new import semantic models from over 100 connectors, all within your browser.Getting started:
1. Navigate to the Create page and select Get data.
This will launch the modern Power Query Get Data experience for you to discover and connect to data including sources like Excel, SharePoint, SQL Server, and more!
2. Choose your data source and configure connection settings.
3. Select the tables you want included in your semantic model.
From here you have the following 3 options:
Option 1: Create a report
This option takes you into the report editing experience in the Power BI service. Here, you can immediately start building a report on top of your newly created semantic model. The report editor provides all the familiar tools for designing visuals, adding filters, and customizing your report layout—right in the browser.
Option 2: Only create a semantic model
Selecting this option creates just the semantic model, without launching the report editor. You’ll land in the model editor in the web, where you can make further edits to your semantic model. This is ideal if you want to refine your semantic model, add relationships, create DAX measures, or configure row-level security before building reports.
Option 3: Transform data
This option allows you to perform rich data transformations using the modern Power Query editor in the web. After completing your transformations, you can choose to either create a report or a semantic model only, depending on your workflow.
Edit Existing Semantic Models in the Web
Not only can you create new import semantic models in the Power BI service, you can also make core modeling changes to your existing semantic models—all without leaving your browser. This includes many capabilities such as:Manage relationships: between tables in the properties pane, diagram view, or the Manage relationships dialog. This includes support for autodetecting relationships for faster modeling.
DAX authoring: Create and edit DAX measures, calculated columns, calculated tables, and calculation groups with full IntelliSense support.
Edit properties: in the properties pane, including support for the model explorer.
Row-level security: Define and assign RLS roles to secure your data.
Power Query integration: Just like when creating new semantic models, Power Query is supported for editing existing models. You can add new import tables to your model using the modern Get Data dialog
Perform rich transformations using the Transform data dialog including using the highly demanded diagram view for visualizing query dependencies and structure.
Schema and data refresh: Refresh both the schema and data for your import semantic models by selecting Refresh in the ribbon.
Behavior to note
Here are a couple of things about the behavior of this experience that are good to know:- As you make changes to your semantic model, your changes will be automatically saved. Semantic model version history is supported for semantic models edited in the web and is still in preview. This feature allows you to recover from critical mistakes.
- You must have write and build permissions on the semantic model to open it in the web in Editing or Viewing mode. You can toggle between these modes in the top right corner of the screen.
- Power BI administrators can enable or disable semantic model editing in the service for the entire organization or for specific security groups, using the setting found in the Power BI admin portal. Additionally, administrators can monitor, and audit activity related to semantic model editing in the web through logs and events available in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center.
Limitations
A full list of limitations including considerations with Power Query editor, unsupported semantic models, and other considerations can be found in our documentation.More information
Read more about editing your data models in the Power BI service in our documentation. Also, if you have feedback, please share it in our feedback forum.