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What is XMLA Read Operation in Power BI?

Cody Schneider•

The XMLA endpoint in Power BI opens up a powerful new layer of connectivity, transforming your datasets from isolated models into enterprise-grade assets that other tools can access. This article explains exactly what the XMLA read operation is, how to use it, and why it's a game-changer for data governance and analysis.

First, What Is the XMLA Endpoint in Power BI?

Before we can talk about “read operations,” we need to understand the XMLA endpoint itself. Think of it as a special doorway into your Power BI environment.

XMLA stands for XML for Analysis. It’s an industry-standard communication protocol that allows different applications to talk to analytical data sources. For years, tools like SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) and Azure Analysis Services (AAS) have used this protocol. When Microsoft added this capability to Power BI Premium, it effectively gave the Power BI service the same "engine" as these enterprise-grade tools.

The “endpoint” is simply the specific web address that external applications use to connect to your Power BI workspace. It acts like a universal translator, letting tools that aren't Power BI - like Excel, Tableau, SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS), or even custom applications - read and query the data models you’ve published in the Power BI service.

In short, the XMLA endpoint bridges the gap between your published Power BI datasets and a broader ecosystem of BI, reporting, and management tools.

The Key Distinction: XMLA "Read" vs. "Read/Write" Operations

When you enable the XMLA endpoint for a Power BI Premium capacity, you have to choose between two settings: Read-Only and Read/Write. Understanding the difference is vital for both security and functionality.

XMLA Read-Only

This is the focus of our article. "Read" access allows external applications to perform read operations only. Think of this as "look, don't touch" mode for your data model.

With read-only permissions, external tools can:

  • Connect to your Power BI datasets.

  • Query the data using MDX or DAX.

  • Build reports and visualizations (like Excel PivotTables or Tableau dashboards) on top of the Power BI dataset.

  • Monitor dataset performance and usage by querying Dynamic Management Views (DMVs).

  • Analyze the existing data model structure (metadata).

However, these tools cannot make any changes. They can't deploy a new data model, add a measure, create a relationship, or modify the dataset in any way. This setting is perfect for situations where you want to provide wide access to a trusted dataset for reporting and analysis without risking accidental changes.

XMLA Read/Write

Read/Write is the super-powered version. It includes all the capabilities of Read-Only, but adds the ability to perform write operations. This allows external enterprise BI tools to modify, manage, and even deploy data models directly to the Power BI service.

Common uses for Read/Write include:

  • Using Tabular Editor or Visual Studio to develop and deploy complex data models to Power BI.

  • Automating dataset management tasks, like refreshing specific partitions or programmatically applying security roles.

  • Performing advanced modeling techniques that aren't yet available in Power BI Desktop.

Generally, Read/Write access is reserved for BI developers and administrators who manage the lifecycle of the data models.

Why Use the XMLA Read Operation? The Core Benefits

Enabling the XMLA endpoint for read operations might seem like a small technical change, but it unlocks significant strategic advantages for any data-driven organization.

1. Create a True Single Source of Truth

This is arguably the biggest benefit. A BI team can create, manage, and certify "Golden Datasets" within Power BI. Then, instead of every department building their own models and pipelines, they can simply connect to this single, curated source of truth. The marketing team can use Power BI reports, the finance team can connect with Excel, and a data science team could connect with a custom Python script - all working from the exact same version of the data.

2. Empower Excel Power Users

Finance and operations teams often live inside Excel. Manually exporting data from Power BI to CSVs is slow, static, and breaks the connection to the live data. The XMLA endpoint lets users connect Excel's Power Pivot directly to the Power BI dataset as if it were a server. This means they can build massive, complex PivotTables and financial models in an environment they know well, while still leveraging the live, secure, and performant Power BI dataset in the background.

3. Expand Your BI Toolset

Not everyone in your organization will use Power BI for reporting. If a particular department has deep expertise in Tableau, they don't need to abandon their tool of choice. With the XMLA read endpoint, they can connect Tableau directly to the Power BI dataset, combining the best of both worlds: Power BI’s robust data modeling and governance with Tableau’s visualization capabilities.

4. Advanced Monitoring and Governance

Power BI administrators can use SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) to connect to the XMLA endpoint and run DMV queries. These are powerful diagnostic queries that give you deep insight into what’s happening inside your datasets. You can monitor query durations, see who is using which datasets, identify performance bottlenecks, and check refresh statuses - all of which are essential for maintaining a healthy and efficient Power BI environment.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Enable and Use the XMLA Read Endpoint

Ready to try it out? Here’s how you get it up and running. Remember, the XMLA endpoint is a Power BI Premium feature, so you'll need access to either a Premium Capacity or Premium Per User (PPU) workspace.

Step 1: Enable the XMLA Endpoint in the Admin Portal

Only a Power BI Administrator can perform this step.

  1. Navigate to the Power BI Admin Portal by clicking the Settings gear icon and selecting "Admin portal."

  2. Go to Capacity settings and select the Premium capacity you want to configure.

  3. Under the Workloads dropdown, you'll find the settings for the XMLA Endpoint.

  4. Change the setting from "Off" to "Read Only."

  5. Click "Apply." The change may take a few minutes to take effect.

Step 2: Find Your Workspace Connection URL

Once enabled at the capacity level, you need the unique URL for the workspace containing your datasets.

  1. Navigate to the Power BI workspace that is assigned to your Premium capacity.

  2. Click on Workspace settings.

  3. Select the Premium tab.

  4. At the bottom, you'll see the Workspace Connection URL. This is your XMLA endpoint. Copy it to your clipboard.

The URL will look something like this: powerbi://api.powerbi.com/v1.0/myorg/My_Workspace_Name.

Step 3: Connect from an External Application (Example: Excel)

Now, let's use that connection URL to pull data into Excel.

  1. Open a new Excel workbook.

  2. Go to the Data menu tab.

  3. Click Get Data > From Database > From Analysis Services.

  4. In the "Server name" field of the dialog box, paste your workspace connection URL.

  5. For logon credentials, choose "Use my current Windows user" and click Next. You will be prompted to sign in with your Power BI credentials.

  6. The Navigator window will appear, showing all the datasets available in that workspace. Select the dataset you want to analyze, and click Finish.

You can now create PivotTables, PivotCharts, or use CUBE functions, all connected directly to your live Power BI dataset!

Practical Scenarios: When Would You Use This?

Here are a few real-world examples of the XMLA read endpoint in action.

  • The Enterprise Data Hub: A central IT team builds and governs "sales," "finance," and "HR" datasets in Power BI. Departmental analysts across the company have read-only access via the XMLA endpoint. They can build their own specialized reports in their tool of choice without having to manage complex data loads or worry about data accuracy.

  • The Finance Team's Quarterly Close: During the quarterly close, the finance team connects Excel directly to the official Power BI finance dataset. They build complex reconciliation and forecasting models in Excel, knowing the data is always up-to-date. If a journal entry is posted, they simply refresh their PivotTables without exporting another CSV.

  • Performance Troubleshooting: A Power BI administrator notices reports are running slow. They connect to the XMLA endpoint with SSMS and run diagnostic queries to see which users and reports are generating the heaviest load on the dataset, allowing them to pinpoint and resolve the bottleneck.

A Few Things to Keep in Mind

Using the XMLA endpoint is powerful, but it’s important to remember a couple of things:

  • Security Is Respected: All security defined in Power BI is enforced. If a user is part of a Row-Level Security (RLS) role, they will only see the data they are permitted to see when connecting from Excel, Tableau, or any other tool.

  • Manage Your Capacity: Queries coming through the XMLA endpoint consume resources on your Premium capacity, just like queries from Power BI reports. Monitor your capacity's performance metrics to make sure external usage isn't degrading performance for other users.

  • Stick to Read-Only When Possible: If users only need to analyze data, always enable the "Read Only" setting. This prevents accidental modifications and protects the integrity of your production datasets.

Final Thoughts

The XMLA read operation is more than a simple feature, it marks Power BI's evolution into an open and versatile analytics platform. By enabling this endpoint, you transform your datasets into reusable, authoritative assets that serve your entire organization, promoting consistency and breaking down data silos.

At our core, we believe that connecting and understanding your data shouldn't be complicated. While the XMLA endpoint offers great connectivity for traditional BI tools, platforms like Graphed are taking the next leap forward. We automate the connection to all your key sources - from Google Analytics to Salesforce - and use AI to let you build rich, real-time dashboards just by describing what you need in plain English. No more wrestling with connection strings or learning complex software, you just ask, and Graphed builds.