Separate data itself from a data model

[TomasDo]

Hello,

I have been wondering if it would be possible to achive a situation in Power BI Service, where I have one main data model (relationships, measures, metadata) but without data itself? What I am aiming at is this schema:

1. dwh as a source (e.g. in azure sql)
2. Main Data Model in PBI Service - but without data.
3. reports connected to this Main Data Model (containing datasets as usual).

I know this is kind of upside down to the situation when I have one main model and multiple reports connected to this (used as a data source).  I am asking this becaue of refresh... in my scenario, I would be able to refresh independently small datasets rather than a big main one.

If this is not possible in PRO licence, how would you proceed to avoid one big refresh? Multiple dataflows to refresh individual tables?  Thank you.

[TomasDo]

 Hello GilbertQ,

thank you for your response.  What I was trying to figure out was if it were possible to have one central semantic model (without data) and multiple datasets connected to this one.  But I think this is not how PBI works now. Or at least I have not found any info about this being possible... 

Tomas

[GilbertQ]

Hi @TomasDo 

As far as I know what you want to do is to use DirectQuery to your Azure SQL?

If so this should be able to be done, but just note that every single visual on a page will send a query down to your Azure SQL which could get very busy and potentially reports could also be slow.

I would recommend then using dataflows to refresh the individual tables, and then you would still need to import the data into your main data model and have that refreshing.