semantic models: ways to connect to it other than PBI (Azure SQL, ADF,etc) How else can I query it?

[sasdfasdfsad]

I have our PBI semantic models, and they have some basic fields that we want to consume elsewhere.  Basically some fact tables in the model.

We want the data to end up in Azure SQL but I am not sure the best way to do this with the fewest moving parts.

Azure SQL does not seem to have a way to connect directly to a semantic model or mount a view against it.

Data Flows I think are going away so those are not to be used anymore???

Maybe ADF to query the PBI model and return the results loading it into an Azure SQL table?

This semantic model is used enterprise wide and the business rules are updated frequently so pulling directly from the model ensures they will always have the most accurate data.

Suggestions?  

[tayloramy · Accepted solution]

Hi @sasdfasdfsad, 

Then I'd recommend trying the DAX API, the Semantic Link library in a notebook, or the XMLA endpoint. 

If you have PowerAutomate premium licenses, you can also try PowerAutomate like @GeraldGEmerick suggested, that would be the most user friendly way to do it if it can achieve your needs. 

If you found this helpful, consider giving some Kudos. If I answered your question or solved your problem, mark this post as the solution. 

[Poojara_D12]

Hi @sasdfasdfsad 

The cleanest way to get your Power BI semantic model data into Azure SQL is by using the model’s XMLA endpoint (available if the model is hosted in Premium or Fabric capacity). Since Azure SQL cannot directly connect to or mount a semantic model, you can instead set up a pipeline—either in Azure Data Factory or Fabric Data Pipelines—that queries the model through the Analysis Services connector or with DAX, and then writes the results into Azure SQL tables. This approach ensures you always reuse the business logic already defined in the model, without duplicating transformations in SQL or ADF, and it avoids deprecated features like Dataflows Gen1. If your models are only in Pro workspaces, XMLA won’t be available, but if you are on Premium/Fabric, the XMLA + pipeline method is the most reliable and future-proof way to keep Azure SQL aligned with your enterprise semantic model.

[v-kpoloju-msft · Accepted solution]

Hi @sasdfasdfsad,

Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Fabric Community Forum. Also, thanks to @tayloramy, @GeraldGEmerick, for those inputs on this thread.

You cannot connect Azure SQL directly to a Power BI semantic model, but you can query it using the Power BI REST API (executeQueries) and load the results into Azure SQL via Azure Data Factory for the simplest, supported pattern. If you are on Premium/Fabric, you can also use the XMLA endpoint or export tables to One Lake (Delta).

Refer these links:
1. Datasets - Execute Queries - REST API (Power BI Power BI REST APIs) | Microsoft Learn
2. Semantic model connectivity and management with the XMLA endpoint in Power BI - Microsoft Fabric | M...
3. Power BI Semantic Models - Microsoft Fabric | Microsoft Learn
4. Web Activity - Azure Data Factory & Azure Synapse | Microsoft Learn

Hope this clears it up. Let us know if you have any doubts regarding this. We will be happy to help.

Thank you for using the Microsoft Fabric Community Forum.

[v-kpoloju-msft]

Hi @sasdfasdfsad,

Just checking in to see if the issue has been resolved on your end. If the earlier suggestions helped, that’s great to hear! And if you’re still facing challenges, feel free to share more details happy to assist further.

Thank you.

[v-kpoloju-msft]

Hi @sasdfasdfsad,

Hope you had a chance to try out the solution shared earlier. Let us know if anything needs further clarification or if there's an update from your side always here to help.

Thank you.

[tayloramy]

Hi @sasdfasdfsad, 

You can connect to the XMLA endpoint if you're on a premium capacity and the setting is enabled, then it behaves mostly like an SSAS cube. 

You can also use notebooks and the semantic link library: Read data from semantic models and write data that semantic models can consume using python - Micros...

There's also a REST API for running DAX queries: Datasets - Execute Queries - REST API (Power BI Power BI REST APIs) | Microsoft Learn

I think these are the main methods to do what you need to, though I would recommend moving the data into Azure SQL from the source, and then pulling it into the semantic model from there. Seems simpler and would have better performance. 

If you found this helpful, consider giving some Kudos. If I answered your question or solved your problem, mark this post as the solution.

[sasdfasdfsad]

Normally 100% accurate.

This is a weird scenario where the data is at rest in the PBI model and we want to grab it from there then write to Azure SQL.

[tayloramy · Accepted solution]

Hi @sasdfasdfsad, 

Then I'd recommend trying the DAX API, the Semantic Link library in a notebook, or the XMLA endpoint. 

If you have PowerAutomate premium licenses, you can also try PowerAutomate like @GeraldGEmerick suggested, that would be the most user friendly way to do it if it can achieve your needs. 

If you found this helpful, consider giving some Kudos. If I answered your question or solved your problem, mark this post as the solution. 

[GeraldGEmerick]

@sasdfasdfsad Look at Power Automate. That would likely be the simplest method.