Tool Availability Matrix (Desktop/Service × Mode × Tier)
This page is a quick reference for “why can’t I see/do X?” across:
- where you are connected (Power BI Desktop vs Power BI Service),
- how your org deployed MCP Engine (full vs read-only vs browse-only),
- and what license tier is active (Free vs Pro vs Enterprise).
End users typically won’t call tools directly, but this matrix helps you understand what’s possible in your environment.
Notes before you use the matrix
- Service (XMLA) connectivity can be disabled centrally. If Service looks Not available for you, ask your admin whether XMLA is enabled for this deployment.
- Browse-only is leak-minimized: it intentionally suppresses expression/details and blocks query execution and refresh. It is designed for safe discovery/documentation, not analysis.
- “Min tier” is the lowest tier where the tool exists. Higher tiers include lower tiers.
Interactive capability explorer
Use this first when your question is “Can I do X here?”:
Tool capability explorer
Choose your mode and tier to see what you can do right now.
Showing 11 available tools for Full mode at Free tier.
Core
| Tool | What it does | Model connection | Min tier | Status | Docs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
List Model list_model | Explore semantic model objects and metadata with search-friendly listing actions.
| Model required | Free | Available | Open page |
Manage Model Connection manage_model_connection | Connect to Power BI Desktop or Service and confirm which model is active.
| No model needed | Free | Available | Open page |
Refresh refresh | Trigger and monitor semantic model refresh operations.
| Model required | Free | Available | Open page |
Run Query run_query | Run DAX queries and inspect result sets and execution diagnostics.
| Model required | Free | Available | Open page |
List Model
list_modelExplore semantic model objects and metadata with search-friendly listing actions.
Manage Model Connection
manage_model_connectionConnect to Power BI Desktop or Service and confirm which model is active.
Refresh
refreshTrigger and monitor semantic model refresh operations.
Run Query
run_queryRun DAX queries and inspect result sets and execution diagnostics.
Authoring
| Tool | What it does | Model connection | Min tier | Status | Docs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Manage Localization manage_localization | Create and manage culture-specific translations for model metadata.
| Model required | Free | Available | Open page |
Manage Model Properties manage_model_properties | Update global model settings such as compatibility, culture, and annotations.
| Model required | Free | Available | Open page |
Manage Schema manage_schema | Create and modify schema objects such as tables, columns, relationships, and partitions.
| Model required | Free | Available | Open page |
Manage Security manage_security | Manage roles, RLS/OLS rules, and access-related semantic definitions.
| Model required | Free | Available | Open page |
Manage Semantic manage_semantic | Author semantic logic including measures, KPIs, calculation groups, and expressions.
| Model required | Free | Available | Open page |
Manage Localization
manage_localizationCreate and manage culture-specific translations for model metadata.
Manage Model Properties
manage_model_propertiesUpdate global model settings such as compatibility, culture, and annotations.
Manage Schema
manage_schemaCreate and modify schema objects such as tables, columns, relationships, and partitions.
Manage Security
manage_securityManage roles, RLS/OLS rules, and access-related semantic definitions.
Manage Semantic
manage_semanticAuthor semantic logic including measures, KPIs, calculation groups, and expressions.
Governance/Advanced
| Tool | What it does | Model connection | Min tier | Status | Docs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Manage License manage_license | Inspect and manage active license state and entitlement levels.
| No model needed | Free | Available | Open page |
Manage Memory manage_memory | Store reusable team preferences, guardrails, and aliases for consistent behavior.
| No model needed | Free | Available | Open page |
Manage License
manage_licenseInspect and manage active license state and entitlement levels.
Manage Memory
manage_memoryStore reusable team preferences, guardrails, and aliases for consistent behavior.
Tools
| Tool | Desktop | Service | Full | Read-only | Browse-only | Min tier | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
list_model | Available | Available | Available | Available | Limited | Free | Browse-only: list/search only; expressions/details suppressed. |
manage_audit | Available | Available | Limited | Not available | Not available | Enterprise | Often hidden unless enabled; exports can be saved on server host. Admins can disable or hide audit tooling unless explicitly exposed. |
manage_dependencies | Available | Available | Available | Available | Not available | Pro | Impact analysis for renames/deletes/refactors; depth can get large. |
manage_license | Available | Available | Available | Available | Available | Free | Activation may be admin-controlled; state stored server-side. |
manage_localization | Available | Available | Available | Not available | Not available | Free | Authoring (writes); metadata-only (captions/descriptions), not DAX/M translation. |
manage_memory | Available | Available | Available | Limited | Not available | Free | Read-only: view/export only; Pro enables workspace/model scopes + masking settings. |
manage_model_changes | Available | Available | Available | Not available | Not available | Pro | Undo/redo/checkpoints/rollback; history is local to the MCP server instance. |
manage_model_connection | Available | Available | Available | Available | Available | Free | Service requires XMLA enabled/auth; Desktop requires an open PBIX. |
manage_model_properties | Available | Available | Available | Not available | Not available | Free | Authoring (writes); compatibility upgrades are high-impact and confirm-gated. |
manage_policy | Available | Available | Available | Limited | Limited | Pro | Edits locked in read-only/browse-only and in bundle-locked org setups. Some organizations lock policy edits via admin policy bundles. |
manage_schema | Available | Available | Available | Not available | Not available | Free | Authoring (writes); bulk changes can partially apply; Desktop requires saving PBIX to persist. |
manage_security | Available | Available | Available | Not available | Not available | Free | Authoring (writes); validate with aggregate queries; perspectives are usability, not security. |
manage_semantic | Available | Available | Available | Not available | Not available | Free | Authoring (writes); calc groups/UDFs may require compat upgrade confirmation. |
manage_tests | Available | Available | Available | Not available | Not available | Pro | Tests + baselines stored on server; exports may be saved to server disk. |
refresh | Available | Available | Available | Available | Not available | Free | Status is best-effort; no cancel; may prompt on first model modification. |
run_query | Available | Available | Available | Available | Not available | Free | Service-only: some impersonation scenarios; keep outputs small/masked. |