Forum Discussion
Connected models in Desktop still create separate semantic models when published?
Hi Avih ,
Apologies for the inconvenience you're experiencing with the semantic models after publishing. can you try below steps :- When you publish a PBIX connected to another semantic model via Desktop, it still creates its own dataset in the Power BI Service.
- This is expected behavior Power BI doesn't maintain the local semantic model connection during publishing.
- Each of your 3 PBIX files ends up creating its own dataset (semantic model), even if 2 of them were dependent in Desktop.
- To avoid this, publish only the main PBIX file that contains the full data model.
- For the other two PBIX files, open them in Desktop and remove their existing model.
- Then, go to Home > Get Data > Power BI Datasets and connect to the semantic model from the Power BI Service.
- These become “thin reports” that rely on the shared dataset in the Service no duplication of semantic models.
- When you publish the thin reports, only the report is published not another dataset.
- If you edit or extend the model in the dependent PBIX (creating a composite model), it will still create a new dataset on publish.
Reference : Separate reports from models in Power BI Desktop - Power BI | Microsoft Learn
Hope this helps !!If this post was helpful, please consider marking Accept as solution to assist other members in finding it more easily.
You're might be seeing extra semantic models because your report is using DirectQuery instead of a true Live Connection this usually happens when the "DirectQuery for Power BI datasets and AS" preview feature is enabled, allowing composite models. To avoid this and ensure publishing creates only a thin report (without a new semantic model), disable that feature in File → Options → Preview features, restart Power BI Desktop, then create a new PBIX using Get Data → Power BI semantic models without adding any other sources this will maintain a true Live Connection.
Unfortunatly, this feature doesn't exist.
Hi Avih ,
Apologies for the inconvenience you're experiencing with the semantic models after publishing. can you try below steps :- When you publish a PBIX connected to another semantic model via Desktop, it still creates its own dataset in the Power BI Service.
- This is expected behavior Power BI doesn't maintain the local semantic model connection during publishing.
- Each of your 3 PBIX files ends up creating its own dataset (semantic model), even if 2 of them were dependent in Desktop.
- To avoid this, publish only the main PBIX file that contains the full data model.
- For the other two PBIX files, open them in Desktop and remove their existing model.
- Then, go to Home > Get Data > Power BI Datasets and connect to the semantic model from the Power BI Service.
- These become “thin reports” that rely on the shared dataset in the Service no duplication of semantic models.
- When you publish the thin reports, only the report is published not another dataset.
- If you edit or extend the model in the dependent PBIX (creating a composite model), it will still create a new dataset on publish.
Reference : Separate reports from models in Power BI Desktop - Power BI | Microsoft Learn
Hope this helps !!If this post was helpful, please consider marking Accept as solution to assist other members in finding it more easily.