What can I do with Machine Learning Studio (classic)?

APPLIES TO: Machine Learning Studio (classic) Azure Machine Learning

Important

Support for Machine Learning Studio (classic) will end on 31 August 2024. We recommend you transition to Azure Machine Learning by that date.

Beginning 1 December 2021, you will not be able to create new Machine Learning Studio (classic) resources. Through 31 August 2024, you can continue to use the existing Machine Learning Studio (classic) resources.

• See information on moving machine learning projects from ML Studio (classic) to Azure Machine Learning.
• Learn more about Azure Machine Learning

ML Studio (classic) documentation is being retired and may not be updated in the future.

Machine Learning Studio (classic) is a drag-and-drop tool that you can use to build, test, and deploy machine learning models. Studio (classic) publishes models as web services, which can easily be consumed by custom apps or BI tools such as Excel.

Studio (classic) interactive workspace

To develop a predictive analysis model, you typically use data from one or more sources, transform, and analyze that data through various data manipulation and statistical functions, and generate a set of results. Developing a model like this is an iterative process. As you modify the various functions and their parameters, your results converge until you are satisfied that you have a trained, effective model.

Machine Learning Studio (classic) gives you an interactive, visual workspace to easily build, test, and iterate on a predictive analysis model. You drag-and-drop datasets and analysis modules onto an interactive canvas, connecting them together to form an experiment, which you run in Machine Learning Studio (classic). To iterate on your model design, you edit the experiment, save a copy if desired, and run it again. When you're ready, you can convert your training experiment to a predictive experiment, and then publish it as a web service so that your model can be accessed by others.

There is no programming required, visually connect datasets and modules to construct your predictive analysis model.

Download the ML Studio (classic) overview diagram

Download the Microsoft ML Studio (classic) Capabilities Overview diagram and get a high-level view of the capabilities of Machine Learning Studio (classic). To keep it nearby, you can print the diagram in tabloid size (11 x 17 in.).

Download the diagram here: Microsoft Machine Learning Studio (classic) Capabilities Overview

Components of a Studio (classic) experiment

An experiment consists of datasets that provide data to analytical modules, which you connect together to construct a predictive analysis model. Specifically, a valid experiment has these characteristics:

• The experiment has at least one dataset and one module
• Datasets may be connected only to modules
• Modules may be connected to either datasets or other modules
• All input ports for modules must have some connection to the data flow
• All required parameters for each module must be set

You can create an experiment from scratch, or you can use an existing sample experiment as a template. For more information, see Copy example experiments to create new machine learning experiments.

For an example of creating an experiment, see Create an experiment in Machine Learning Studio (classic).

For a more complete walkthrough of creating a predictive analytics solution, see Develop a predictive solution with Machine Learning Studio (classic).

Datasets

A dataset is data that has been uploaded to Machine Learning Studio (classic) so that it can be used in the modeling process. A number of sample datasets are included with Machine Learning Studio (classic) for you to experiment with, and you can upload more datasets as you need them. Here are some examples of included datasets:

• MPG data for various automobiles - Miles per gallon (MPG) values for automobiles identified by number of cylinders, horsepower, etc.
• Breast cancer data - Breast cancer diagnosis data.
• Forest fires data - Forest fire sizes in northeast Portugal.

As you build an experiment, you can choose from the list of datasets available to the left of the canvas.

For a list of sample datasets included in Machine Learning Studio (classic), see Use the sample data sets in Machine Learning Studio (classic).

Modules

A module is an algorithm that you can perform on your data. Machine Learning Studio (classic) has a number of modules ranging from data ingress functions to training, scoring, and validation processes. Here are some examples of included modules:

• Convert to ARFF - Converts a .NET serialized dataset to Attribute-Relation File Format (ARFF).
• Compute Elementary Statistics - Calculates elementary statistics such as mean, standard deviation, etc.
• Linear Regression - Creates an online gradient descent-based linear regression model.
• Score Model - Scores a trained classification or regression model.

As you build an experiment, you can choose from the list of modules available to the left of the canvas.

A module may have a set of parameters that you can use to configure the module's internal algorithms. When you select a module on the canvas, the module's parameters are displayed in the Properties pane to the right of the canvas. You can modify the parameters in that pane to tune your model.

For some help navigating through the large library of machine learning algorithms available, see How to choose algorithms for Microsoft Machine Learning Studio (classic).

Deploying a predictive analytics web service

Once your predictive analytics model is ready, you can deploy it as a web service right from Machine Learning Studio (classic). For more information on this process, see Deploy an Machine Learning web service.

Next steps

You can learn the basics of predictive analytics and machine learning using a step-by-step quickstart and by building on samples.