TableDependency

Overview

The TableDependency class in the TCDX object model represents a table-level dependency between a Consumer (Excel, Power BI report, etc.) and a tabular model. It is used to track which tables within a model are referenced by a given Consumer or Item.

Purpose

The primary functions of the TableDependency class include:

• Tracking table dependencies within a tabular model.
• Providing metadata about the tables accessed by a Consumer.
• Facilitating auditing and optimization of data models by analyzing table usage patterns.

This class is essential for governance, performance tuning, and data lineage tracking within Power BI, Excel, and other tabular model consumers.

Public Properties

The TableDependency class consists of the following key properties:

Property Details

• Model
  • This property links the TableDependency to a specific tabular model via a ModelDependency object.
  • It helps track which model the table belongs to.
• TableName
  • Stores the name of the table being referenced within the tabular model.
  • Allows identification of table dependencies for a given Consumer.
• ModelTable
  • If available, this property provides a reference to the DAX Metadata representation of the table.
  • This enables deeper analysis of table structure, relationships, and optimization potential.

Relationships with Other Classes

The TableDependency class interacts with multiple components in the TCDX model:

• ModelDependency → Links the table to the specific tabular model.
• Consumer → Stores table dependencies used within Excel, Power BI, or other client applications.
• Item → Represents individual objects (pivot tables, visuals) that reference specific tables.
• ColumnDependency → Tracks column-level dependencies within the referenced table.
• MeasureDependency → Captures measure dependencies that rely on a specific table.

Class Diagram Representation

TableDependency
├── Model : ModelDependency
├── TableName : TcdxName
└── ModelTable : Dax.Metadata.Table

• Item → references multiple TableDependency
• TableDependency → references ModelDependency
• ColumnDependency → references TableDependency
• MeasureDependency → references TableDependency

Conclusion

The TableDependency class plays a critical role in tracking table-level dependencies within the TCDX object model. By linking Consumers, Items, and tabular models, it provides a structured approach to analyzing data consumption patterns.

This class is particularly useful for:

• Auditing → Understanding which tables are most frequently used in reports and workbooks.
• Performance Optimization → Identifying unnecessary table references and improving data model efficiency.
• Governance & Data Lineage → Ensuring compliance with best practices for data modeling and usage.

By integrating TableDependency into the TCDX model, organizations can gain insights into tabular model usage and enhance overall data management across Power BI, Excel, and other reporting tools.

Note:

for privacy reasons, strings are implemented as TcdxName objects, to allow a future implementation of objects anonymization.