Mastering Microsoft Fabric :Adding, Editing, and Updating your Direct Lake Semantic Model

Add new table and update a direct lake semantic model

This guide is designed to introduce you to Direct Lake semantic models and show you how to add new tables, edit existing ones, and keep your models up to date.

Whether you’re starting from scratch or enhancing your skills, this practical guide will help you maximize your data modelling efficiency. And don’t forget, check out my YouTube video - https://youtu.be/EAEQP_wTVIc for a detailed visual walkthrough!

Understanding Direct Lake Semantic Models

Before jumping into the development process, let’s clarify what a Direct Lake semantic model is. Direct Lake is a storage mode option for tables in a Power BI semantic model that's stored in a Microsoft Fabric workspace. It's optimized for large volumes of data that can be quickly loaded into memory from Delta tables stored in OneLake—the single store for all analytics data. Once loaded into memory, the semantic model enables high performance interactive analysis.

Source: microsoft.com

When to Use Direct Lake Storage Mode:

Primarily, Direct Lake storage mode is typically used for projects that use lake-centric architectures. In such scenarios, you have, or expect to accumulate, large volumes of data in OneLake. The fast loading of that data into memory, frequent and fast refresh operations, efficient use of capacity resources, and fast query performance are all important for this use case.

There are direct lake related terminologies in Fabric you need to be familiar with such as Column loading (transcoding), Framing and DirectQuery fallback which are outside the scope of this guide. You can read more on this or watch my other videos.

 Adding a New Table to Your Semantic Model

Adding a new table can greatly enhance your data analysis capabilities. Below are steps you can follow:

Step 1: Open Your Semantic Model

In a Fabric workspace, locate a created semantic model to be modified. Then right click on the 3 dots and select Open data model from the list as shown below:

Step 2: Choose Edit view

Next, navigate to the edit view on the top right conner of the page to either edit model on a fabric workspace or in Power BI desktop. Note by default, a viewing mode is displayed.

Step 3: Add New Table

Once Edit data is selected in the step above, the Edit semantic model window below pops up: 

Here you can add or remove tables from your model as needed or required. Then click on confirm button to save your changes.

Note all changes are automatically saved in fabric for a direct lake model. This also applies when changes are made on Power BI Desktop.

Best Practices for Managing Your Semantic Model

While adding, editing, and updating tables is relatively simple, following best practices can superbly enhance your data modelling experience. Here are some recommendations:

1. Consistent Naming Conventions: Use clear, consistent names for tables and fields. For example, use "Customer_ID" instead of vague terms. Clear naming improves understanding and teamwork.

2. Version Control: Keep version histories to track changes over time. If something goes wrong, having this history allows you to revert to a previous version and minimize disruptions.

3. Documentation: Maintain a well-organized documentation system for your model. Explain its structure, relationships, and any unique calculations. This helps onboard new team members smoothly.

4. User Access Management: Restrict editing rights to authorized personnel only. This prevents accidental changes that could affect data integrity.

5. Regular Training and Workshops: Host regular training sessions on Microsoft Fabric. Make these sessions engaging to ensure your team operates effectively with the latest features and best practices.

   
   

Maximizing Your Data Modelling Journey In Fabric

In this guide, we explored how to add new tables, edit existing ones, and keep your Direct Lake semantic models updated in Microsoft Fabric. By mastering these skills, you place yourself on a path to enhance your data management capabilities, leading to richer analytics and reports.

For more insights, don’t forget to check out my YouTube videos:

https://youtu.be/EAEQP_wTVIc or https://youtu.be/cX1LLxwZOTQ , where I cover each step visually.

Engaging with your data is now simpler than ever. Use these tips and watch your data analytics flourish!