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Create and share a cloud connection for a semantic model

This article explains how to connect to a semantic model from a plan item. This step is required to work with your semantic model data in a planning sheet.

Important

This feature is in preview.

To connect a plan to a semantic model, a workspace admin or member must create a shareable cloud connection. Other users can use this connection to access the semantic model. The following steps describe how to create and share the connection.

Prerequisites

Before you can create the semantic model connection, make sure that you have:

Create a semantic model connection

Use this connection to connect to your semantic models when you create a plan. A workplace admin or member who has access to the semantic model must complete the following steps.

  1. On your Microsoft Fabric toolbar, select the Settings icon. Select Manage connections and gateways > New.

    Screenshot of opening the settings for managing the connection gateways.

  2. For the new connection, select Cloud.

  3. Enter a connection name.

  4. For Connection type, select Power BI Semantic Model.

  5. Select an Authentication method.

    • OAuth 2.0: Select Edit credentials, then sign in with your Microsoft account.
    • Service principal: Enter the Tenant ID, Service Principal ID, and Service Principal Key.

    Screenshot of authentication method options in new semantic model connection.

  6. Select Create.

Screenshot of creating a new semantic model connection.

Share the semantic model connection

  1. Next to the name of the semantic model connection in your Fabric workspace, select ..., and then select Manage users.

    Screenshot of opening the connection for managing users.

  2. Search for the name or email of the users to share the semantic model connection.

  3. Set the access permission to one of the following options: User, User with resharing, or Owner.

  4. Select Share to share the connection.

    Screenshot of manage users settings.

Other users can now use this shared connection to connect to the semantic model.

Connection types supported in a planning sheet

Planning supports the following connection types.

Connection type Support status Requirements
Import mode Supported fully None.
Direct Lake Supported with limitations Gateway must use fixed credentials. Single sign-on (SSO) isn't supported at this time.
DirectQuery Supported with limitations Gateway must use fixed credentials. SSO isn't supported at this time.

Connect to a Direct Lake semantic model

If you want to connect to a Direct Lake semantic model, follow these steps. An Admin or Member user can perform these steps.

  1. Next to the name of the semantic model in your Fabric workspace, select ... > Settings > Gateway and cloud connections.

    Screenshot of opening semantic model settings for Direct Lake.

  2. By default, the connection is set to SSO. You can create and use a new connection.

  3. From the connection list, select Create a connection.

    Screenshot of the settings for managing connection gateways.

  4. Enter the new connection name.

  5. Select an Authentication method:

    • OAuth 2.0: Select Edit credentials, then sign in with your Microsoft account.
    • Service principal: Enter the Tenant ID, Service Principal ID, and Service Principal Key.

    Screenshot of authentication method options in new semantic model connection.

  6. Select Create.

    Screenshot of creating a new Direct Lake connection.

  7. Select the newly created Direct Lake semantic model connection from the list, and then select Apply.

    Screenshot of applying the created connection.

Conditions for Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment

To enable Continuous Integration (CI) and Continuous Deployment (CD), ensure the following conditions are met:

  • The semantic model connection must be created using Service Principal authentication.
  • The service principal must have the required access across all environments. This ensures the same semantic model connection can be reused seamlessly in different environments during deployment.

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