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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 (preview) 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 you have the following prerequisite in place:

Create a semantic model connection

This connection is used to connect to your semantic models when you create a plan. The following steps must be completed by a workspace admin or member who has access to the semantic model.

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

    Screenshot of opening the manage connection gateways settings.

  2. Select Cloud as the New connection.

  3. Enter a Connection name.

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

  5. Set the Authentication method to OAuth2.0.

  6. Select Edit credentials, then sign in with your Microsoft account.

  7. Select Create.

Screenshot of 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 Manage users.

    Screenshot of opening the manage user connection.

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

  3. Set the access permission to either User, User with resharing, or Owner.

  4. Select Share to share the connection.

    Screenshot of manage users settings.

  5. The semantic connection created is shared and can be accessed by other users.

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

Connection types supported in Planning sheet

Planning supports the following connection types:

Connection type Support status Requirements
Import mode Supported fully
Direct Lake Supported with limitations Gateway must use fixed credentials (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 the steps below. These steps can be performed by workspace Admin or Member users.

  1. Next to the name of the semantic model in your Fabric workspace, select ... > Settings > Gateway & Cloud Connections.

    Screenshot of opening semantic model settings for direct lake.

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

  3. Select Create a connection from the connection list.

    Screenshot the manage connection gateways settings.

  4. Enter the new connection name, and select OAuth 2.0 as the authentication method.

  5. Select Create.

    Screenshot of creating a new direct lake connection.

  6. Select the newly created Direct Lake semantic model connection from the list. Select Apply.

    Screenshot of applying the created connection.

Next steps

Now that your semantic model connection is created, you can create a Planning sheet that uses this connection: Create a Planning sheet.