Overwrite a semantic model on service from Desktop

[Damien69]

Hello guys,

My Workspace has a singular semantic model called "prod", from which 4 different reports are generated.

Sometimes I have to create a new report from this semantic model, and I have to update it in some way (new measures, calculated columns...). I work on Desktop.

When I publish the edited semantic and report, it creates a new "branch" in lineage view, where I end up with "prod", its 4 reports and whatever i named the .pbix file as a new semantic model/report.

What i'd like is for the semantic model to be overwritten by my latest publish, and have the new report be linked, to end up with a "prod" updated semantic model and 5 reports stemming from it.

Is it even possible and considered good practice ? If not, what would you recomment ?

Thank you !

[ibarrau · Accepted solution]

Hi. Yes that's possible. In order to work like that you need to keep one single pbix file for the dataset prod that will hold only semantic model changes. Not even one for report. Just data model. That one should have always the same name and it will let you replace each time you publish.

The key here is how to build the reports. The reports can be created with PBI Desktop, you just need to get data from "semantic model" or "dataset" from Power Bi Service. Pick the prod semantic model and start creating the UI for the report.

The reports will be just visualizations, no data model. The prod holds the data model. Each time you create a report you create a new blank pbix file and get data from the dataset hub.

When you need a modification to the prod dataset, just edit the prod.pbix file and publish to replace.

I hope that helps,