tmdl
Direct TMDL file authoring and BIM-to-TMDL conversion for semantic models in PBIP projects. Automatically invoke when the user asks to "edit TMDL", "add a measure in TMDL", "TMDL syntax", "fix formatString", "fix summarizeBy", "TMDL indentation", "convert BIM to TMDL", "add a column description", "create a calculated column in TMDL", or mentions .tmdl file editing or BIM-to-TMDL migration.
npx skills add data-goblin/power-bi-agentic-development --skill tmdl --agent claude-code
Same command for any agent — swap --agent for codex, cursor, copilot.
Weekly change comes from our own snapshots, not the repository page — it measures attention, not adoption.
# TMDL Authoring Expert guidance for authoring and editing TMDL (Tabular Model Definition Language) files directly in PBIP projects. > **This skill is a last resort.** Direct TMDL file editing lacks the validation, atomicity, and DAX query capabilities of the Tabular Editor CLI, Power BI MCP server, or the `connect-pbid` skill (TOM via PowerShell). Use those tools when available. TMDL editing is appropriate when: > > - Working with PBIP files in a Git repo without Power BI Desktop open > - No Tabular Editor CLI or MCP server is installed > - Making quick text-level fixes (descriptions, format strings, display folders) where a full tool chain is overkill > > Direct TMDL editing does not validate DAX syntax, check referential integrity, or verify that property values are valid. Errors will only surface when the model is next loaded in Power BI Desktop or deployed via XMLA. Use the **`pbip-validator`** agent to check TMDL files for syntax issues, indentation errors, and referential integrity before opening in PBI Desktop. ## When to Use This Skill Activate only when the Tabular Editor CLI, Power BI MCP server, or `connect-pbid` skill are not available, and tasks involve: - Editing `.t
- When to Use This Skill
- Critical
- TMDL File Types
- Object Nesting Rules
- Syntax Rules
- Indentation
- Descriptions (///)
- Comments (//)
- Property Ordering
- Name Quoting
- When to Quote
- When NOT to Quote
- Examples
- Column Definitions
What does the tmdl skill do?
Direct TMDL file authoring and BIM-to-TMDL conversion for semantic models in PBIP projects. Automatically invoke when the user asks to "edit TMDL", "add a measure in TMDL", "TMDL syntax", "fix formatString", "fix summarizeBy", "TMDL indentation", "convert BIM to TMDL", "add a column description", "create a calculated column in TMDL", or mentions .tmdl file editing or BIM-to-TMDL migration.
How do I install it?
Run `npx skills add data-goblin/power-bi-agentic-development --skill tmdl --agent claude-code` — it drops the skill into your project so the agent can pick it up. Swap the --agent value for codex, cursor or copilot if you use one of those.
Where does this skill come from?
From data-goblin/power-bi-agentic-development, a repository with 833 stars. We read it straight from the repository tree rather than a submitted listing, so what you see here is what is actually published.
Is a popular skill a good skill?
Not necessarily. Stars measure attention, not adoption — a repository can trend for a week and be abandoned. That is why we show the weekly change from our own snapshots next to the total, instead of a single flattering number.