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Semantic models with Direct Lake tables can be used like any other Power BI semantic model. You can create Power BI reports, Power BI explorations, and run Data Analysis eXpression (DAX) queries.
When a Power BI report shows data in visuals, it requests it from the semantic model. With Direct Lake mode, the semantic model accesses the OneLake delta table to consume data and return it to the Power BI report. For efficiency, the semantic model can keep some recently accessed data in the cache.
With Direct Lake on SQL, when the semantic model can't use Direct Lake it can fall back to DirectQuery and access the data via the SQL analytics endpoint. This behavior is controlled by the Direct Lake behavior property.
Creating a report
Creating a report from a Power BI semantic model is easy. The report live connects to the semantic model. In a live connection, the report can be created and edited without editing the semantic model itself. You need at least Build permission on the semantic model to live connect.
Power BI Desktop
Power BI Desktop can live connect to any semantic model in the Power BI service to create a report.
Note
Live connect is different from live editing a semantic model in Power BI Desktop. Live connect is also different than having a local semantic model with import or DirectQuery tables and report together.
- Open Power BI Desktop
- Select OneLake catalog or Get data from other sources ribbon button
- Filter by Semantic model
- Select the semantic model with the Direct Lake tables and then Connect
You're now live connected to the semantic model and can start creating the report. Learn more about Power BI reports at the Power BI reporting documentation. Save the file locally and publish to any workspace when ready to see it online and share with others.
In Power BI Desktop, report measures can be created in a live connected report to add a calculation without adding measures to the semantic model itself.
Power BI service or Fabric portal
The Power BI service or Fabric portal has many paths to create a report with a live connection to a semantic model. Here are a few of the paths to create a report.
- Use the context menu (...) of a semantic model in a workspace, then choose Create report
- From Home choose New report, then Pick a published semantic model and select the semantic model with Direct lake tables
- From OneLake catalog using the drop-down All items by filter to Data and Semantic model, select the semantic model with Direct lake tables then select Explore and Create a blank report from the top bar
- In web modeling, after choosing Open data model, go to File, then Create new report
Any of these actions create a Power BI report in the web browser.
Other reporting options
There are many other ways to use Power BI semantic models. Here are a few of the other options.
- Explore are created from the context menu or details page of a semantic model in the Power BI service
- Paginated reports are created from the context menu or details page of a semantic model in the Power BI service
- DAX queries can be run from the context menu or details page of a semantic model in the Power BI service or in Power BI Desktop using DAX query view
- Excel with Power BI add-on pane can be used to create refreshable pivot tables or flat tables of data from a semantic model