/semantic-model-authoring

name: semantic-model-authoring
description: "Manages Power BI semantic models, including tables, columns, measures, relationships, field parameters, DAX, Import, DirectQuery and Direct Lake designs, sources, connections, permissions, refresh, and deployment. Load this skill before acting on a semantic model, unless it is part of publishing a PBIP project, which powerbi-report-cli owns. For natural-language data questions use fabriciq; for visuals use powerbi-report-cli."

> **Telemetry — MANDATORY.** Every `api.fabric.microsoft.com` call must carry > `x-ms-fabric-skill: semantic-model-authoring` (`az rest`: `--headers "x-ms-fabric-skill=semantic-model-authoring"`), > including every LRO poll, `fabric_lro` and retry. Snippets omit it — add it anyway.

> **CRITICAL NOTES** > 1. To find the workspace details (including its ID) from workspace name: list all workspaces and, then, use JMESPath filtering > 2. To find the item details (including its ID) from workspace ID, item type, and item name: list all items of that type in that workspace and, then, use JMESPath filtering > 3. Always consider the [Tool selection priority](#tool-selection-priority) when choosing which tool to use for each operation. Do not default to TMDL edits or `az rest` if MCP is available and connected to the target model.

Power BI Semantic Model Authoring — CLI Skill

Workflow Selector

Use this decision tree to route to the correct workflow based on user intent:

| User wants to... | Workflow | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | Create a semantic model from scratch | [Create new semantic model](#workflow-create-new-semantic-model) | | Inspect or discover model metadata (tables, columns, measures, relationships) | [Discover Semantic Model Metadata](#workflow-discover-semantic-model-metadata) | | Add/edit semantic model objects (e.g. measures, tables, columns, relationships) | [Modify an Existing Model](#workflow-modify-an-existing-model) | | Write or refactor DAX code | [Modify an Existing Model](#workflow-modify-an-existing-model) | | Create/edit a field parameter | [Author a Field Parameter](#workflow-author-a-field-parameter) | | Improve DAX query or measure performance | [Optimize DAX Performance](#workflow-optimize-dax-performance) | | Analyze semantic model against best practices | [Analyze Best Practices](#workflow-analyze-best-practices) | | Prepare a semantic model for AI consumption (Copilot / Data Agents) | [Semantic Model AI Readiness](#workflow-semantic-model-ai-readiness) | | Deploy a model to a Fabric workspace | [Deploy to Fabric](#workflow-deploy-to-fabric) | | Refresh a semantic model | [Refresh Semantic Model](#workflow-refresh-semantic-model) | | Configure data sources, parameters, or permissions | [Manage Semantic Model in Fabric](#workflow-manage-semantic-model-in-fabric) | | Bind a semantic model to a Fabric connection (or unbind) | [Bind Semantic Model to a Connection](#workflow-bind-semantic-model-to-a-connection) | | Export / Get semantic model definition as PBIP | [Export to PBIP](#workflow-export-to-pbip) |

Table of Contents

Load these references on demand when a workflow step requires them. Do not load all at once.

| Topic | Reference | When to load | | -------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Modeling Best Practices | [modeling-guidelines.md](./references/modeling-guidelines.md) | Before creating or editing any model | | Naming Conventions | [naming-conventions.md](./references/naming-conventions.md) | When naming or renaming tables, columns, measures | | Direct Lake Modeling | [direct-lake-guidelines.md](./references/direct-lake-guidelines.md) | When model connects to OneLake | | TMDL Editing | [tmdl-guidelines.md](./references/tmdl-guidelines.md) | Before generating or editing any TMDL file | | PBIP Projects | [pbip.md](./references/pbip.md) | When working with PBIP folders | | DAX Language | [dax-guidelines.md](./references/dax-guidelines.md) | When writing or reviewing any DAX code | | Field Parameters | [field-parameters.md](./references/field-parameters.md) | When creating/editing a field-p