Skip to main content

Edit your data model in the Power BI Service (Preview)

Headshot of article author Emily Lisa

Introducing data model editing on the web! A first step towards modeling parity in the Service.

  • Feature overview
  • Setup instructions
  • Features & scenarios to try
  • Behavior to note
  • Data model editing administration
  • Limitations and known issues
  • More information

Feature overview

For many years Power BI Desktop users have been able to configure and modify aspects of their data models in the model view. However, these model view capabilities have been specific to Desktop with no additional data model view or edit support in Service. Now we are introducing data model editing in the Service, allowing Service users a first step towards viewing and modifying their existing data models on the web. In this preview you can modify your existing data models on the web through actions such as editing relationships, creating DAX measures, and managing row-level security (RLS). We will continue to regularly release updates to this experience with the eventual goal of parity in modeling capabilities offered in the Service.

Setup instructions

This feature is automatically turned on for datasets stored in My Workspace. To try this experience in a collaborative workspace please turn on the Workspace level preview switch under workspace settings:

Once this is enabled, you can enter the experience by selecting Open data model for your dataset in the workspace content list, data hub content list, dataset details page (example shown below), or in edit mode of a report.

Features & scenarios to try

As this feature is currently in preview, we are eager to collect as much feedback as we can. Here are some things you can try to explore this feature for yourself:

  • Creating and editing measures, calculated columns, and calculated tables.
  • Creating and editing relationships.
  • Defining row-level security roles and rules.
  • Editing properties for your data fields.
  • Creating new reports based on your data model.

Please leave feedback in our feedback forum.

Behavior to note

Here are a couple of things about the behavior of this experience that are good to know:

  • As you make changes to your data model, your changes will be automatically saved. Changes will be permanent with no option to undo.
  • A user must have write and build dataset permissions in order to open and edit the corresponding data model in the service.

Data model editing administration

You can administer editing data models in the Power BI Service in the following ways:

  • Power BI administrators can enable or disable data model editing in the service for the entire organization or for specific security groups, using the setting found in the Power BI admin portal.
  • Power BI administrators can audit operations pertaining to editing data models in the web operations from the Microsoft 365 Admin Center.
  • You can monitor the impact editing data models in the service has on your Power BI Premium capacities using the Premium metrics app.

Limitations and known issues

A full list of limitations including unsupported datasets, layout persistence across sessions, and functional and accessibility gaps can be found in our documentation.

More information

Read more about editing your data models in the Power BI service in our documentation. Also, if you have feedback, please share it in our feedback forum.