# Semantic model components, relationships and testing

*Tableau Next Consultant Study Guide · Data Setup · Last updated November 13, 2026 · https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/tableau-next-consultant/data-setup/semantic-model-components-relationships-and-testing*

What a Tableau Next semantic model contains, how to build one from Data 360 objects, an existing model or a Tableau published data source, how relationships and logical views combine objects, how to design labels and metrics for analytics agents, and how Test Model checks the result.

- Certification: Salesforce Tableau Next Consultant
- Exam section: Data Setup
- Study guide: https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/tableau-next-consultant

**Official exam objective:**

> Understand the components, design, and application of semantic models.

## What the exam expects

- Describe a semantic model as metadata and name its layers: objects, relationships, field metadata, calculated fields and metrics.
- Build a model from Data 360 objects, an existing model or a Tableau published data source, and predict what each route allows.
- Choose between a relationship and a logical view, and finish imported relationships correctly.
- Apply AI-readiness rules for labels, descriptions, grain, connected structure, redundant calculations and metrics.
- Use Test Model and interpret its outline, filters, Run and Reset.

Key terms:
- **Semantic model:** metadata holding a data model plus semantic definitions.
- **DMO / DLO:** a data model object maps the data stored in one or more data lake objects into a reliable structure.
- **Relationship:** a connection between two data objects on common fields, without a join type.
- **Logical view:** a data object built from other objects with joins or unions.
- **PDS:** a Tableau published data source on Tableau Cloud.

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| What a semantic model is | First-class Salesforce metadata, available throughout Data 360 | [Semantic Models in Tableau Next](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.tua_data_sdm_about_models.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| New-model dialog | One data object at a time; add more with the Data Objects plus icon | [Add Semantic Models](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.tua_data_sdm_add_models.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Imported relationships | Data 360 DMO relationships included; circular ones removed | [Semantic Models in Tableau Next](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.tua_data_sdm_about_models.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Key qualifier | Imported from Data 360, added to imported relationships manually | [Relationships in Tableau Semantics](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.c360_a_sl_relationship.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| PDS-backed model | No DMOs created; additional objects can't be added | [Design for AI Readiness](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.tua_ai_sm_design.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Create from Tableau permissions | Data Cloud Architect and Semantic Models permission sets plus a Tableau Next license | [Connect a PDS to a New Semantic Model](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.c360_a_sl_data_models_pds_create_sm.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Field Visibility default | All fields visible by default | [Manage Data Objects](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.c360_a_sl_data_objects_manage.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| API name vs label | API name not editable after creation in the model; label editable | [Design for AI Readiness](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.tua_ai_sm_design.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Test filters | Affect only test results, never the model's objects | [Test a Semantic Model](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.c360_a_sl_testing_smodel_test.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Test Sample Size | Default 100 rows | [Test a Semantic Model](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.c360_a_sl_testing_smodel_test.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |

## Check yourself

- What is the default Sample Size when you configure a Test Model run?
- Why should a modeler avoid combining Live Query Federation objects with objects from other sources in one model?
- Why map a date column to the date field type rather than text?
- When a test uses several filters, which operators can the filter-logic expression contain?

## Sources

- [Semantic Models in Tableau Next](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.tua_data_sdm_about_models.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Add Semantic Models](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.tua_data_sdm_add_models.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Create a Semantic Model in Tableau Next](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.tua_data_sdm_create.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Design Semantic Models for AI Readiness](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.tua_ai_sm_design.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Understanding Salesforce and Data Cloud Terms](https://help.tableau.com/current/tableau-next/en-us/tableau_next_sf_datacloud_terms.htm)
- [Semantic Definitions in Tableau Semantics](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.c360_a_sl_semantic_definitions.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Relationships in Tableau Semantics](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.c360_a_sl_relationship.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Logical Views in Tableau Semantics](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.c360_a_sl_logical_view.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Manage Data Objects in Tableau Semantics](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.c360_a_sl_data_objects_manage.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Connect a Published Data Source (PDS) to a New Semantic Model](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.c360_a_sl_data_models_pds_create_sm.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Test a Semantic Model](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.c360_a_sl_testing_smodel_test.htm&type=5&language=en_US)

## About the full unit

The "Core concepts", "Exam traps" and "Worked scenario" sections of this unit, its 20 linked practice questions, and unlimited timed mock exams are included with the Tableau Next Consultant pack (USD $19): https://www.certifyforce.com/practice-exams