---
url: /quickstart.md
---
# First Steps | ![tutorial-label](/images/tutorial-label.png)

In this tutorial, you will create a simple *Workflow* to familiarize yourself with ALIDA.
Specifically:

* You will upload a new *Dataset*
* You will create a *Workflow* that will read the *Dataset* and apply the K-means algorithm to it
* You will run the *Workflow*
* You will view the results obtained

## **1. Login**

First, log in using the credentials provided to you by the administrator

## **2. Dataset Upload**

Next, proceed to upload the *Dataset*. In ALIDA, a *Dataset* is a reference to a specific location within a *Datasource*.
A *Datasource* is a reference to a storage service; such as an S3 Object Store.

2.1 Download the **Iris** dataset in CSV format to your computer from the following URL:

* Iris @ Mendeley Data

2.2 Access the *Dataset* registration page as indicated in the following figures:

![dashboard with burger icon highlighted](/images/dashboard-with-burger-icon-highlighted.png)
*Access the sidebar menu through the burger icon*

![sidebar with datasets highlighted](/images/sidebar-with-datasets-highlighted.png)
*Open the Datasets panel*

![datasets page](/images/datasets-page-with-register-dataset-highlighted.png)
*Open registration form*

2.3 Fill in the form as indicated (see also figures):

1. **Name:** `Quickstart Iris`

2. *Select the Datasource within which to upload the dataset*: `<your username>`

3. *Open the Dataset upload panel by clicking the button* ![upload-dataset-button](/images/upload-dataset-button.png)

   ![dataset registration form with first steps highlighted](/images/dataset-registration-form-with-first-steps-highlighted.png)
   *Dataset registration form*

4. In the panel that opens, enter the name of the new folder to create (A): `Quickstart Iris` (the uploaded file will be saved within it)

5. Select the Iris dataset downloaded in step 2.1 by clicking on *"Upload files"* (B)

   ![upload dataset dialog](/images/upload-dataset-dialog.png)
   *Dataset upload panel*

   ![selected-files-recap](/images/selected-files-recap.png)
   *Selected files recap*

6. Upload the file by clicking on ![upload-files-button](/images/upload-files-button.png)

   ![file-successfully-uploaded-popup](/images/file-successfully-uploaded-popup.png)
   *File/directory successfully uploaded*

7. Click on the newly created directory

   ![select-just-uploaded-directory](/images/select-just-uploaded-directory.png)
   *List of directories for datasource*

8. Select the dataset path by clicking on the ![register-dataset-select-dataset-path-icon-button](/images/register-dataset-select-dataset-path-icon-button.png) icon as indicated in the figure:

   ![load-just-uploaded-file-path](/images/load-just-uploaded-file-path.png)
   *Select dataset path*

   Upon clicking, the dataset schema will be displayed at the bottom of the same page.

   ![register-dataset-schema-details-after-dataset-path-selection](/images/register-dataset-schema-details-after-dataset-path-selection.png)
   *View selected dataset schema*

9. Click on **Save**. The dataset detail page will appear

   ![dataset-details-page-after-upload](/images/dataset-details-page-after-upload.png)
   *View newly created Dataset*

## **3. Workflow Creation**

3.1 At this point, access the *Designer* to create the *Workflow* as shown in the following figures:

![sidebar-menu-with-workflows-item-highlighted](/images/sidebar-menu-with-workflows-item-highlighted.png)
*Access the Workflow catalog*

![create-workflow-button-highlighted](/images/create-workflow-button-highlighted.png)
*Create new Workflow*

3.2 Fill in the *Workflow* settings form as indicated in the figure:

* Access Level: `Private`
* Default Data Source: `<your.username>`

and click on **Confirm**:

![new-workflow-pre-settings.png](/images/new-workflow-pre-settings.png)
*Workflow settings panel*

You have reached the *Workflow Designer*, which will allow you to combine *Datasets*, *Services* and *Models* to create your *Workflow*:

![workflow-designer-first-view](/images/workflow-designer-first-view.png)
*Workflow Designer page*

3.4 Assemble the *Workflow* by dragging onto the *Designer*:

1. The KMeans *Service*
2. The Iris *Dataset* previously uploaded (under **Datasets** tab)

![service-drag-n-drop](/images/service-drag-n-drop.png)
*Drag and Drop the Service and Dataset you just created from the respective tabs*

3.5 Connect the "Quickstart Iris" *Dataset* to the "KMeans" *Service*, dragging the *Dataset* port (🟢) and releasing it onto the service input port (🟢):

![connecting-service-ports](/images/connecting-service-ports.png)
*Connect Dataset and Service*

3.6 Assign a name to the *Workflow* from the right menu: `Quickstart Iris`

![workflow-designer-assign-name-to-workflow](/images/workflow-designer-assign-name-to-workflow.png)
*Assign name to Workflow*

3.7 Click on the KMean *Service* on the canvas and select the default *Target* "Worker Nodes":
![select-default-target-in-workflow](/images/select-default-target-in-workflow.png)
*Select Default Target in Workflow*
The *Target* determines the set of cluster nodes eligible to host the *Service* execution

3.8 Finally, click on an empty point on the canvas and then on **Create Workflow**:
![save-workflow.png](/images/save-workflow.png)
*Workflow creation button*

::: info Note
Within this brief tutorial, we do not cover the numerous configuration features of the Workflow and individual Services offered by ALIDA.
For these, we refer the reader to the respective sections of this manual.
:::

## **4. Workflow Execution**

4.1 After creating the *Workflow*, on the resulting detail page, click on **Run** to execute it:

![click-on-run-workflow](/images/click-on-run-workflow.png)
*Run Workflow*

4.2 After the execution is complete, the status bar will automatically switch to **Completed**:

![completed-workflow-status-bar](/images/completed-workflow-status-bar.png)
*Workflow status updated*

## **5. Viewing Results**

The Kmeans *Service* in use generates two types of output:

1. A set of graphs
2. A dataset that differs from the input dataset by adding a new column containing the result of the classification

5.1 Remaining on the Workflow detail page, view the graphs by clicking on **Workflow Media**:

![application-media-button-highlighted](/images/application-media-button-highlighted.png)
*Media generated button*

A panel with the graphs generated by the *Workflow* will open on the right:

![kmeans-sample-plots](/images/kmeans-sample-plots.png)
*Graphs generated by Workflow*

5.1 View the output dataset as follows:

1. Scroll down the current Workflow detail page
2. Open the *Datasets* section, and
3. Click the **Preview** button (![plain-preview-button](/images/plain-preview-button.png)) next to the output *Dataset* (![output-dataset-tag-icon](/images/output-dataset-tag-icon.png))

![output-dataset-view-area.png](/images/output-dataset-view-area.png)
*View output Dataset*

A dialog will open, with a preview of the resulting *Dataset*. Note the new `cluster` column containing the processing results.
![output-dataset-data-preview-popup.png](/images/output-dataset-data-preview-popup.png)
*Generated Dataset preview*

## **6. Next Steps**

Congratulations! You have just created and executed your first *Workflow*.

Continue exploring the concepts and features of ALIDA:

* Visit the [*The Platform*](./dashboard.md) section to explore the ALIDA graphical interface
* Visit the [*Assets*](./datasource-management.md) section to learn more about the essential components of ALIDA
* Visit the [*Service*](./service-management.md) section and the [tutorial](./service-development.md) on **creating custom *Services***