New Database: Power BI Semantic Models

[WesleyDieterich]

Database

• Name: Power BI / Microsoft Fabric Semantic Models (XMLA Endpoint)
• Website: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/fabric/enterprise/powerbi/service-premium-connect-tools
• Type: OLAP / Tabular (Analysis Services)

Connection

• How do you typically connect?
  Connections are established via the XMLA endpoint exposed by Power BI / Fabric workspaces:

  powerbi://api.powerbi.com/v1.0/myorg/<workspace-name>
  

  Optionally specifying a dataset:

  Provider=MSOLAP;
  Data Source=powerbi://api.powerbi.com/v1.0/myorg/<workspace>;
  Initial Catalog=<dataset-name>;
  

• Protocol:
  XMLA (XML for Analysis over HTTP/SOAP)

• Node.js driver:
  There is no widely adopted native Node.js driver. Typically accessed via:

  • MSOLAP (OLE DB)
  • ADOMD.NET / AMO (via .NET interop)

• Auth methods:

  • Microsoft Entra ID (OAuth2 / Azure AD)
  • Interactive login (with MFA)
  • Service Principal (where supported)

Additional info

• Database documentation link:
  https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/analysis-services/instances/connection-string-properties-analysis-services

• Special considerations:

  • Requires Build permission or higher on the dataset

  • XMLA endpoint can be read-only or read-write depending on capacity configuration

  • This is not a traditional relational database:

    • Queries are written in DAX, MDX, or via DMVs
    • No support for standard SQL or information_schema

  • Common tools supporting this connection:

    • SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)
    • Tabular Editor
    • Excel (live connection)

  • Metadata discovery relies on DMVs instead of relational catalogs

Why this matters

Power BI / Fabric semantic models are increasingly used as a centralized semantic layer in modern data architectures. Supporting XMLA endpoints would allow DBCode users to:

• Explore semantic models directly from the editor
• Run DAX/MDX queries without switching tools
• Inspect metadata (measures, tables, relationships) programmatically
• Integrate BI-layer logic into developer workflows

Suggestion

This feature could potentially be implemented as support for Microsoft Analysis Services / XMLA endpoints (similar to SSAS or Azure Analysis Services), rather than as a traditional SQL database integration.

Even read-only support (query + metadata exploration) would already provide significant value.