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Fabric Cli Powerbi

  • 118 installs
  • 163 repo stars
  • Updated July 23, 2026
  • microsoft/fabric-cli

Fabric CLI skill for Power BI semantic models reports DAX refresh and gateways.

About

Microsoft Fabric CLI skill for Power BI operations. Covers semantic model management, report deployment, DAX query execution, dataset refresh scheduling, and gateway configuration through fabric CLI commands. Activates when users work with Power BI items, refresh datasets, execute DAX, manage reports, or troubleshoot Fabric workspace connectivity. Documents authentication, workspace selection, and command patterns for automating Power BI administration from terminal workflows.

  • Fabric CLI for Power BI semantic models and reports
  • DAX query execution and dataset refresh operations
  • Gateway management and workspace connectivity
  • Terminal automation for Power BI administration
  • Activates on Power BI items refresh DAX and report management

Fabric Cli Powerbi by the numbers

  • 118 all-time installs (skills.sh)
  • Ranked #772 of 2,066 Data Science & ML skills by installs in the Skillselion catalog
  • Security screen: HIGH risk (skills.sh audit)
  • Data as of Jul 28, 2026 (Skillselion catalog sync)
At a glance

fabric-cli-powerbi capabilities & compatibility

Capabilities
execute dax · refresh dataset · manage semantic models · configure gateways
Works with
azure · power bi
Use cases
data analysis · devops
From the docs

What fabric-cli-powerbi says it does

Use Fabric CLI for Power BI operations — semantic models, reports, DAX queries, refresh, gateways.
SKILL.md
npx skills add https://github.com/microsoft/fabric-cli --skill fabric-cli-powerbi

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Listed on Skillselion
Installs118
repo stars163
Security audit2 / 3 scanners passed
Last updatedJuly 23, 2026
Repositorymicrosoft/fabric-cli

How do I manage Power BI items from the Fabric CLI?

Use Fabric CLI for Power BI semantic models, reports, DAX queries, dataset refresh, and gateway management.

Who is it for?

Developers automating Power BI semantic models, reports, and dataset refresh.

Skip if: Power Apps code app connector setup or non-Fabric data engineering.

When should I use this skill?

User works with Power BI items, DAX queries, dataset refresh, or gateways via Fabric CLI.

What you get

Power BI operation completed via fabric CLI with correct workspace and auth.

Files

SKILL.mdMarkdownGitHub ↗

Fabric CLI Power BI Operations

Expert guidance for working with Power BI items (semantic models, reports, dashboards) using the fab CLI.

When to Use This Skill

Activate automatically when tasks involve:

  • Semantic model (dataset) operations — get, export, refresh, update
  • Report management — export, clone, rebind to different model
  • Executing DAX queries against semantic models
  • Managing refresh schedules and troubleshooting failures
  • Gateway and data source configuration
  • TMDL (Tabular Model Definition Language) operations

Prerequisites

  • Load fabric-cli-core skill first for foundational CLI guidance
  • User must be authenticated: fab auth status
  • Appropriate workspace permissions for target items

Automation Scripts

Ready-to-use Python scripts for Power BI tasks. Run any script with --help for full options.

ScriptPurposeUsage
refresh_model.pyTrigger and monitor semantic model refreshpython scripts/refresh_model.py <model> [--wait] [--timeout 300]
list_refresh_history.pyShow refresh history and failure detailspython scripts/list_refresh_history.py <model> [--last N]
rebind_report.pyRebind report to different semantic modelpython scripts/rebind_report.py <report> --model <new-model>

Scripts are located in the scripts/ folder of this skill.

1 - Power BI Item Types

Entity SuffixTypeDescription
.SemanticModelSemantic ModelPower BI dataset (tabular model)
.ReportReportPower BI report (visualizations)
.DashboardDashboardPower BI dashboard (pinned tiles)
.DataflowDataflowPower Query dataflow
.PaginatedReportPaginated ReportRDL-based paginated report

Path Examples

# Semantic model
Production.Workspace/Sales.SemanticModel

# Report connected to model
Production.Workspace/SalesReport.Report

# Dashboard
Production.Workspace/ExecutiveDash.Dashboard

2 - Semantic Model Operations

Get Model Information

# Check if model exists
fab exists "ws.Workspace/Model.SemanticModel"

# Get model properties
fab get "ws.Workspace/Model.SemanticModel"

# Get model ID (needed for Power BI API calls)
fab get "ws.Workspace/Model.SemanticModel" -q "id"

# Get full definition (TMDL)
fab get "ws.Workspace/Model.SemanticModel" -q "definition"

Export Model

# Export to local directory (PBIP format with TMDL)
fab export "ws.Workspace/Model.SemanticModel" -o ./exports -f

Creates folder structure:

Model.SemanticModel/
├── .platform
├── definition.pbism
└── definition/
    ├── model.tmdl
    ├── tables/
    │   ├── Sales.tmdl
    │   └── Date.tmdl
    └── relationships.tmdl

Import/Update Model

# Import from PBIP folder
fab import "ws.Workspace/Model.SemanticModel" -i ./exports/Model.SemanticModel -f

# Copy between workspaces
fab cp "Dev.Workspace/Model.SemanticModel" "Prod.Workspace/Model.SemanticModel" -f

3 - Refresh Operations

Trigger Refresh

# Get IDs
WS_ID=$(fab get "ws.Workspace" -q "id" | tr -d '"')
MODEL_ID=$(fab get "ws.Workspace/Model.SemanticModel" -q "id" | tr -d '"')

# Trigger full refresh
fab api -A powerbi "groups/$WS_ID/datasets/$MODEL_ID/refreshes" -X post -i '{"type":"Full"}'

# Check refresh status
fab api -A powerbi "groups/$WS_ID/datasets/$MODEL_ID/refreshes?\$top=1"

Enhanced Refresh (Partition-Level)

# Refresh specific tables
fab api -A powerbi "groups/$WS_ID/datasets/$MODEL_ID/refreshes" -X post -i '{
  "type": "Full",
  "commitMode": "transactional",
  "objects": [
    {"table": "Sales"},
    {"table": "Inventory"}
  ]
}'

# Refresh with retry
fab api -A powerbi "groups/$WS_ID/datasets/$MODEL_ID/refreshes" -X post -i '{
  "type": "Full",
  "retryCount": 3
}'

Refresh Schedule

# Get current schedule
fab api -A powerbi "datasets/$MODEL_ID/refreshSchedule"

# Set daily refresh at 6 AM UTC
fab api -A powerbi "datasets/$MODEL_ID/refreshSchedule" -X patch -i '{
  "enabled": true,
  "days": ["Monday","Tuesday","Wednesday","Thursday","Friday"],
  "times": ["06:00"],
  "localTimeZoneId": "UTC"
}'

Troubleshoot Refresh Failures

# Get refresh history
fab api -A powerbi "groups/$WS_ID/datasets/$MODEL_ID/refreshes"

# Common failure patterns:
# - "credentials" → Update data source credentials
# - "gateway" → Check gateway status
# - "timeout" → Use enhanced refresh with smaller batches
# - "memory" → Optimize model or use incremental refresh

4 - DAX Query Execution

Execute DAX queries against semantic models:

MODEL_ID=$(fab get "ws.Workspace/Model.SemanticModel" -q "id" | tr -d '"')

# Simple query
fab api -A powerbi "datasets/$MODEL_ID/executeQueries" -X post -i '{
  "queries": [{"query": "EVALUATE VALUES(Date[Year])"}]
}'

# Aggregation query
fab api -A powerbi "datasets/$MODEL_ID/executeQueries" -X post -i '{
  "queries": [{
    "query": "EVALUATE SUMMARIZECOLUMNS(Date[Year], \"Total\", SUM(Sales[Amount]))"
  }]
}'

# TOPN query
fab api -A powerbi "datasets/$MODEL_ID/executeQueries" -X post -i '{
  "queries": [{
    "query": "EVALUATE TOPN(10, Product, [Total Sales], DESC)"
  }]
}'

# Query with parameters
fab api -A powerbi "datasets/$MODEL_ID/executeQueries" -X post -i '{
  "queries": [{
    "query": "EVALUATE FILTER(Sales, Sales[Year] = @Year)",
    "parameters": [{"name": "@Year", "value": "2024"}]
  }]
}'

5 - Report Operations

Get Report Info

# Check exists
fab exists "ws.Workspace/Report.Report"

# Get properties
fab get "ws.Workspace/Report.Report"

# Get connected model
fab get "ws.Workspace/Report.Report" -q "definition.parts[?contains(path, 'definition.pbir')].payload | [0]"

Export Report

# Export to PBIP format
fab export "ws.Workspace/Report.Report" -o ./exports -f

Clone Report

# Copy within workspace
fab cp "ws.Workspace/Report.Report" "ws.Workspace/ReportCopy.Report" -f

# Copy to another workspace
fab cp "Dev.Workspace/Report.Report" "Prod.Workspace/Report.Report" -f

Rebind Report to Different Model

WS_ID=$(fab get "ws.Workspace" -q "id" | tr -d '"')
REPORT_ID=$(fab get "ws.Workspace/Report.Report" -q "id" | tr -d '"')
NEW_MODEL_ID=$(fab get "ws.Workspace/NewModel.SemanticModel" -q "id" | tr -d '"')

fab api -A powerbi "groups/$WS_ID/reports/$REPORT_ID/Rebind" -X post -i "{
  \"datasetId\": \"$NEW_MODEL_ID\"
}"

Export Report to File (PDF/PPTX)

# Export to PDF
fab api -A powerbi "groups/$WS_ID/reports/$REPORT_ID/ExportTo" -X post -i '{
  "format": "PDF"
}'

# Poll for completion, then download

6 - Gateway Operations

List Gateways

# Tenant-level gateways (hidden entity)
fab ls .gateways

# Get gateway details
fab get ".gateways/MyGateway.Gateway"

Data Source Management

GATEWAY_ID=$(fab get ".gateways/MyGateway.Gateway" -q "id" | tr -d '"')

# List data sources on gateway
fab api -A powerbi "gateways/$GATEWAY_ID/datasources"

# Get data source status
fab api -A powerbi "gateways/$GATEWAY_ID/datasources/$DATASOURCE_ID"

Update Data Source Credentials

# Update credentials (basic auth example)
fab api -A powerbi "gateways/$GATEWAY_ID/datasources/$DATASOURCE_ID" -X patch -i '{
  "credentialDetails": {
    "credentialType": "Basic",
    "credentials": "{\"credentialData\":[{\"name\":\"username\",\"value\":\"user\"},{\"name\":\"password\",\"value\":\"pass\"}]}",
    "encryptedConnection": "Encrypted",
    "encryptionAlgorithm": "None",
    "privacyLevel": "Organizational"
  }
}'

7 - Take Over Ownership

When a semantic model owner leaves the organization:

WS_ID=$(fab get "ws.Workspace" -q "id" | tr -d '"')
MODEL_ID=$(fab get "ws.Workspace/Model.SemanticModel" -q "id" | tr -d '"')

# Take over semantic model ownership
fab api -A powerbi "groups/$WS_ID/datasets/$MODEL_ID/Default.TakeOver" -X post

8 - Common Patterns

Dev to Production Deployment

#!/bin/bash
DEV_WS="Dev.Workspace"
PROD_WS="Prod.Workspace"

# 1. Export from dev
fab export "$DEV_WS/Sales.SemanticModel" -o ./deploy -f
fab export "$DEV_WS/SalesReport.Report" -o ./deploy -f

# 2. Import to prod
fab import "$PROD_WS/Sales.SemanticModel" -i ./deploy/Sales.SemanticModel -f
fab import "$PROD_WS/SalesReport.Report" -i ./deploy/SalesReport.Report -f

# 3. Trigger refresh
PROD_WS_ID=$(fab get "$PROD_WS" -q "id" | tr -d '"')
MODEL_ID=$(fab get "$PROD_WS/Sales.SemanticModel" -q "id" | tr -d '"')
fab api -A powerbi "groups/$PROD_WS_ID/datasets/$MODEL_ID/refreshes" -X post -i '{"type":"Full"}'

# 4. Verify
fab api -A powerbi "groups/$PROD_WS_ID/datasets/$MODEL_ID/refreshes?\$top=1" -q "value[0].status"

Backup Semantic Model

# Export definition for version control
fab export "Prod.Workspace/Model.SemanticModel" -o ./backups/$(date +%Y%m%d) -f
git add ./backups/
git commit -m "Backup Model $(date +%Y-%m-%d)"

Incremental Refresh Setup

For large models, use incremental refresh:

1. Configure in Power BI Desktop with RangeStart/RangeEnd parameters 2. Publish to workspace 3. First refresh creates partitions:

# Monitor partition creation
fab api -A powerbi "groups/$WS_ID/datasets/$MODEL_ID/refreshes?\$top=5"

9 - Safety Guidelines

  • Always verify workspace context before refresh operations
  • Test in dev first — never refresh production without testing
  • Monitor refresh duration — set appropriate timeouts
  • Backup before major changes — export definition before updates
  • Use enhanced refresh for large models to avoid timeouts

10 - References

For detailed patterns, see:

  • references/semantic-models.md — Full TMDL operations
  • references/reports.md — Report management
  • references/refresh.md — Refresh troubleshooting
  • references/dax-queries.md — Advanced DAX patterns
  • references/gateways.md — Gateway configuration

Related skills

FAQ

What Power BI operations are supported?

Semantic models, reports, DAX queries, dataset refresh, and gateway management.

What CLI is used?

Microsoft Fabric CLI with Power BI-specific command patterns.

When does this skill activate?

When users work with Power BI items, refresh datasets, or execute DAX via Fabric.

Is Fabric Cli Powerbi safe to install?

skills.sh reports 2 of 3 security scanners passed. Review the Security Audits panel on this page before installing in production.

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