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Power BI semantic model refresh templates let you orchestrate semantic model refreshes using Fabric data pipelines, making it easier to automate and sequence refresh activities. Instead of configuring refresh logic manually, you can start from a guided template that handles common scenarios such as scheduled refreshes, event-driven triggers, or refreshing multiple models in sequence.
Fabric Data Factory is a cloud-based ETL and data integration service designed to address complex data orchestration scenarios. It enables the creation of data-driven workflows (pipelines) that automate data movement and transformation at scale.
Learn more about templates for Data Factory and the semantic model refresh activity.
Create a data pipeline
Before you begin, you need a workspace with a Microsoft Fabric-enabled capacity.
In your Power BI workspace, go to the semantic model details page and select Create advanced refresh from the refresh dropdown.
This opens the template gallery, which includes preconfigured refresh scenarios such as:
- Event-driven refreshes: Set up an event or action that triggers a semantic model refresh.
- Refresh after a dataflow run: Trigger a semantic model refresh after each dataflow activity.
- Scheduled refreshes: Create a schedule to trigger a refresh on a recurring basis.
- Sequence multiple semantic models: Trigger refreshes sequentially across different semantic models.
Each template provides a guided setup to help you configure the refresh process within data pipelines.
Components of the data pipeline solution
When you configure a template, you’ll use these core components:
- Guided setup: Each template includes a step-by-step wizard. Read more about Data Factory templates.
- Semantic model refresh settings: Select the connection, workspace, and semantic model. Optionally specify tables or partitions for incremental refresh. Read more about semantic model refresh activities.
- Scheduling options: Choose flexible intervals, from minute-by-minute to quarterly.
- Additional activities: Add actions such as Teams or Outlook notifications. Read more about Data Factory activities.
- Data pipelines: Orchestrate the overall process, letting you visualize and manage refresh activities. Read more about data pipelines.
Examples
The following examples show how you can use templates to orchestrate semantic model refreshes in Power BI. Each scenario provides a guided setup in the Data Pipelines experience, and you can add additional activities as needed.
Refresh a semantic model after a dataflow refresh
Use this template when you want a semantic model to refresh once a dataflow completes.
- Select the dataflow and workspace to monitor.
- Configure the semantic model refresh activity by selecting the connection, workspace, and model.
Incremental refresh
A semantic model can be incrementally refreshed according to the selected tables and partitions.
- In the semantic model refresh activity, choose the tables you want to refresh.
- Select partitions to be refreshed.
- Run the pipeline to refresh only the changed data.
Add notifications or alerts
You can extend your pipeline by adding activities that notify users when a refresh completes or fails.
- After configuring the semantic model refresh, add a Teams or Outlook activity.
- Enter recipients and a custom message.
- Save and run the pipeline.
Scheduled refreshes
Set up a semantic model refresh to run on a schedule.
- Select the semantic model to refresh.
- Configure the schedule (minute-by-minute, hourly, daily, weekly or monthly).
- Save the pipeline to apply the schedule.
Sequence multiple semantic models
Use this template when multiple semantic models need to refresh in a specific order.
- Add multiple semantic model refresh activities to the pipeline.
- Arrange them in sequence.
- Save and run the pipeline.
Event-driven refresh
Trigger a semantic model refresh based on events.
- Add a trigger (for example, a file arriving in storage).
- Configure the semantic model refresh activity with connection, workspace, and model.
- Optionally add alerts or other downstream activities.
This is ideal for scenarios where your data changes unpredictably, and you need the semantic model updated immediately. Read more about event triggers.