Exercise 1: Exploring the Microsoft Azure Marketplace DataMarket portal and Service Explorer

In this exercise, we will sign up to the Microsoft Azure Marketplace DataMarket portal and use the Service Explorer to explore your service details and the DataMarket datasets.

Task 1 – Accessing and Signing Up to the Microsoft Azure Marketplace DataMarket Portal

In this task you will access the Microsoft Azure Marketplace DataMarket portal and sign up:

1. Navigate to https://datamarket.azure.com/
2. If you have a Windows Live ID, use it to sign in. If you do not have a Windows Live ID, create one.

3. Once you have signed in, take some time to review the portal.

   Figure 1

   Microsoft Azure Marketplace DataMarket portal

4. Click Register link.

   Figure 2

   Clicking Register

5. Enter the requested information in Account Details, review the privacy statement, and select the checkbox to agree with DataMarket privacy policies. Click the Continue button.

   Figure 3

   Registering for DataMarket

6. Review the User Agreement, and accept it selecting the I accept the Terms of Use checkbox. Click Register button to finish registration.

   Figure 4

   Accepting User Agreement

7. Once registered you see the My Data page. If not automatically redirected click My Data button on ribbon.

   Figure 5

   My Data Page

Task 2 – Exploring Your Account Keys

In this task, you will explore your account keys and create a new account key.

1. From the DataMarketPortalHomePage, click the My Account link. Alternatively, you can click on My Data tab.

   Figure 6

   Clicking My Account

2. Click Account Keys on left pane. To create a new account key, click the Addaccount key link.

   Figure 7

   Creating a new account key

3. The screen for adding an account key will display. Enter a description for the account key and click the Create button.

   Figure 8

   Adding a new Account Key

4. You will now see your new account key in the list of available keys.

   Figure 9

   Your new account key

Task 3 – Exploring the Datasets in the DataMarket and Subscribing to a Dataset

In this task, you will explore the DataMarket. The DataMarket allows users to browse and subscribe to available datasets.

1. Click Browse tab.

   Figure 10

   Clicking Browse

   Note:

   For each dataset, the DataMarket shows the data provider, a description of the dataset’s content, the type of the content, and provides a link that will allow you to subscribe to the dataset.

2. Using Search the MarketPlace, locate the UN DATA dataset called “Gender Info 2007 – United Nations Statistics Division”. Use the key word Gender.

   Figure 11

   Searching Dataset

3. Click on the dataset and review the information. Click on Sign Up button to subscribe to the dataset.

   Figure 12

   Reviewing dataset information

4. Review and accept Dataset Terms. Click Sign Up button.

   Figure 13

   Signing Up Dataset Subscription

5. Review the Receipt.

   Figure 14

   Your DataMarket Subscription Receipt

Task 4 – Using Service Explorer to Preview a Dataset

In this task, you will use the Service Explorer to preview a dataset to which you have subscribed.

1. From the DataMarketPortal, click the My Data tab; you will see a list of your subscribed datasets.
2. Locate the Free subscription for “Gender Info 2007” Dataset and click the title to open subscription.

3. Click Explore This Dataset link.

   Figure 15

   Exploring the dataset

4. The dataset will open in the Service Explorer.

   Figure 16

   Service Explorer

   Note:

   You can use the Service Explorer to query the dataset, invoke the dataset as an Atom feed, or analyze the dataset using the PowerPivot add-in for Excel 2010.

5. Modify or set some of the Optional parameters and click the Run Query button. This will display a preview of the dataset based on the criteria you set.

   Figure 17

   Previewing your Dataset

6. By default, the preview will display in Table format, however you can click Atom Pub link to preview the dataset in Atom Pub format.

   Figure 18

   Preview Formats