Microsoft Fabric - connection to Semantic model

[Cloud release: 2026.05.06]
[On-prem release: 2026 June]
[On-prem build: 26.05.22002]
 

From TARGIT, you can connect to a Semantic model created in Microsoft Fabric.

A 'Semantic model' in Microsoft Fabric may also be related to names such as 'Vertipaq engine', 'Tabular model', 'DAX' and 'PowerBI data model'.

Overview of steps

From an overview point, these steps are required to establish a connection between a TARGIT Server and a Microsoft Fabric Semantic model.

Assumption: It is assumed that a Semantic model and a Lakehouse data source is already available in Microsoft Fabric.

1. In Azure, create and register a Service Principal application.
2. In Microsoft Fabric Workspace locate the Connection link and Tenant ID.
3. In Microsoft Fabric Workspace, grant Admin access to the Service Principal.
4. In Microsoft Fabric Lakehouse, grant Read and ReadAll permissions to the Service Principal.
5. In TARGIT Management client, use the Workspace Connection link, Tenant ID and the Service Principal's Application ID and Secret Value to create a connection to the Semantic model.

Detail steps

Service Principal app registration in Azure

Open your Azure Portal to register a new app.

1. Go to Microsoft Entra ID
2. Go to App Registrations
3. Create a New registration and give it a proper name

4. Copy the Application ID and store it in e.g., Notepad. When setting up the TARGIT connection, we will use the Application ID as user name.
5. For this application, go to Certificates and secrets to create a New client secret
6. Give the secret a proper name and save it
7. Important: Copy the Secret Value and store it in e.g., Notepad. You will not be able to retrieve the Secret Value later. When setting up the TARGIT connection, we will use the Secret Value as password.

Settings and permissions in Microsoft Fabric

Log in to your Microsoft Fabric portal: https://app.fabric.microsoft.com/

Open the Workspace containing the Sematic model:

Go to Workspace settings:

Copy the Connection link from License info and store it in e.g., Notepad. You will need it later for the Connection string in TARGIT Management:

Copy the Tenant ID and store it in e.g., Notepad. You will need it later for the Connection string in TARGIT Management. The Tenant ID may be obtained by clicking your Profile image (in upper right corner) and clicking the info icon for your tenant:

For the Workspace, go to Manage access:

Add the Service Principal with Admin role:

Go to OneLake catalog and locate the Lakehouse that serves as the data source for your Semantic model. Open the context menu (the three dots) and go to Manage permissions:

Add the Service Principal as a user and Grant access:

Extend the Service Principal's access rights with the ReadAll option:

Open the TARGIT Management client, go to Connections and add a new connection of type Microsoft Fabric Semantic Model:

Give your connection a proper name and fill in the Database properties:

• Server: Paste in the Fabric Workspace Connection link
• Username: The username is a string constructed from fixed text (app:), Application ID and Tenant ID:

app:<Service Principal Application ID>@<Tenant ID>

• Password: Paste in the Secret Value
• Look up the Database and click 'Create':

At this point you should be able to open a TARGIT client and start working with the Semantic model as a data source for your TARGIT dashboards and reports.