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.

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 prerequisites in place:

• Data in a Power BI semantic model

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.

2. Select Cloud as the new connection.
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, and then sign in with your Microsoft account.
   • Service principal – Enter the Tenant ID, Service Principal ID, and Service Principal Key. For service principal-based authentication, ensure you enable Service principals can call Fabric public APIs under Developer settings in the admin portal.

   

6. Select Create.

Share the semantic model connection#

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

2. Search the name or email ID of the users to share the semantic model connection.
3. Set the access permission as User, User with resharing, or Owner.
4. Select Share to share the connection.

5. The semantic connection created is shared, which 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:

Connect to a Direct Lake semantic model#

If you want to connect to a Direct Lake semantic model, follow the steps below. These steps should 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.

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.

4. Enter the new connection name.
5. Select an Authentication method
   • OAuth 2.0 – Select Edit credentials, and then sign in with your Microsoft account.
   • Service principal – Enter the Tenant ID, Service Principal ID, and Service Principal Key. For service principal-based authentication, ensure you enable Service principals can call Fabric public APIs under Developer settings in the admin portal.

4. Select create.

6. Select the newly created direct lake semantic model connection from the list and apply.

Recommended configuration for Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD)

For an optimal Continuous Integration (CI) and Continuous Deployment (CD) experience, consider the following recommendations:

• Create the semantic model connection using Service Principal authentication.
• Grant the service principal the required access across all environments. This allows the same semantic model connection to be reused across environments during deployment, simplifying CI/CD workflows.

Next steps #

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

Related content#

Prerequisites for Plan

Trobleshooting guide