When you extend a semantic model, it inherits all definitions from the base model, including data objects, fields, relationships, and calculated fields. Now you can add more functionality to your extended model by overriding the base model semantic definitions. Any property that is overridden is disconnected from the base model. All other properties are connected and therefore continue to receive automatic updates from the base model.
Where: This change applies to Data Cloud in Unlimited and Enterprise editions where Tableau Semantics is enabled.
When: This update is available starting in May 2026.
Who: This feature is available to users with the Tableau Next Standard license or Data Cloud users without a Tableau Next License. To configure or modify models, users must have edit permissions for the Semantic Model builder.
Why: Use extended models when multiple teams need customized views of the same data. Each team can work from a single governed base model while independently adding semantic definitions or overrides to the existing base model definitions. Changes made to the base model automatically propagate to all extended models, except to definitions where you've applied an override. This architecture scales your semantic layer across your company while maintaining consistency and control.
This feature enables users to tailor semantic definitions from the base model to their specific business needs. This reinforces the base model as the single source of truth, while allowing the extended model to be adapted to a specific use case. When the override is no longer needed, revert it and restore the connection to the base model.
This feature supports overrides for:
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Data object field properties — override the label, description, or visibility of a field in a data object (data model object, data lake object, calculated insights, or logical view).
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Data object properties — override the label or description of a semantic data object.
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Calculated field properties — override the label, description, or visibility of a calculated field.
In addition to the overrides, you can also add standard or custom fields to aan extended model which enable you to have specific properties available only in the extended model.
How to add an override: To add an override, open your extended model in the Semantic Model builder and select the field or object you want to modify. In the properties pane, enter a new value for the name or description, and then save your changes. To restore an overridden property and resume automatic updates from the base model, click Revert on the overridden property.
How to add a standard or custom field: To add a standard or custom field to an extended model, use the Select Data Objects for Semantic Model, or click Manage Fields from the left pane for a specific data object. Next, select the fields you want to add and confirm. You can only delete the fields you add. You can't revert them.