> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.informationgrid.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.informationgrid.com/informationgrid-data-sharing-services/datastation-quick-start-your-first-data-exchange.md).
# Datastation Quick start: Your First Data Exchange
This quickstart tutorial walks you through the complete lifecycle of a data exchange in a dataspace. In a few steps, you will publish a data product, discover it from another participant, request access, and retrieve the data. By the end of this tutorial, you will understand how Datastations enable trusted data sharing between participants.
This tutorial demonstrates the following workflow:
Publish data → Discover data → Request access → Access data
### **What You Will Learn**
In this tutorial you will learn how to:
* publish a data product with an access policy
* discover data products in the catalog
* request access to a dataset
* establish a data sharing contract
* retrieve data through a Datastation
### **Prerequisites**
Before starting this tutorial, ensure that:
* a Datastation is running
* at least two participants exist in the data space
* **Provider participant**
* **Consumer participant**
* you have administrator or data manager permissions for both participants
### **Step 1 – Publish a Data Product**
First, the provider participant publishes a dataset.
1. Open the **provider Datastation** and login.
2. Navigate to **Datasets**.
3. Click the option **Create** of the “Manage datasets” menu.
4. Enter the below metadata and attach the following file (or any other file you wish to share).
{% file src="/files/S8wEDLiV0hsyhKMm6RAm" %}
5. Click **Create** to create the dataset.
6. Open the dataset.
7. Click the option **Publish** of the “Manage Datasets” menu.
8. Select the catalog the dataset should be published to, in this tutorial this will just be the provider participant's own local catalog, and click **Publish**.
9. Select an access policy.
10. Sign the offer.
**Result**
The data product is now listed in the provider participant’s **local catalog** and becomes discoverable by other participants in the data space.\
The catalog is available on
### **Step 2 – Discover Data**
Next, the consumer participant searches for available datasets.
1. Navigate to the **provider's** catalog and log in using the **consumer's** credentials
2. Click the dataset published by the provider in the previous step.
You can now view the:
* Dataset description
* Provider information
* Usage policies
* Access requirements
**Result**
The consumer participant has discovered the dataset and can request access.
### **Step 3 – Request Data Access**
To access the dataset, the consumer must request permission from the provider.
1. Navigate to the dataset as discovered in step 2.
2. Click the **Access url** - You are now redirected to the provider Datastation.
3. Authenticate yourself by logging in as the **consumer** on the provider Datastation to let the provider know is requesting access.
4. Based on the provided credentials the consumer Datastation is resolved, where you're asked to import the dataset, click Next.
5. The consumer is now asked to configure the policy, check the checkbox and click Continue, and sign the transaction.
6. The dataset will now be imported on the consumer Datastation, it will be listed under **Imported datasets** with an *accessPending* state, as the provider first needs to provide access.\
In this case the state will automatically transition to *accessApproved* as the only thing required was to check a checkbox.
When approved, a **data sharing contract** is automatically established between the two participants.
The contract specifies:
* who can access the data
* what policies apply
* how the data may be used
### **Step 4 – Access the Data**
Once the provider has approved the request, the contract is active and the consumer can retrieve the data.
1. Navigate to **Imported datasets** on the consumer Datastation.
2. The dataset's state is has been updated to *accessApproved* after the provider participant approved the request.
3. Click the option **Retrieve** of the “Manage subscriptions” menu.
4. The policy is evaluated and a download is initiated, transferring the dataset from the provider Datastation to the consumer Datastation.
The Datastation constantly evaluates and enforces all contract policies during (each) data transfer.
**Result**
You have successfully completed a full data exchange in the data space.
The workflow included:
Provider publishes data -> Consumer discovers data -> Consumer requests access -> Provider approves contract -> Data is securely exchanged
This process ensures that data sharing remains **secure, governed, and transparent**.
**What’s Next**
Now that you completed your first data exchange, you can explore additional capabilities of the Datastation:
* **Publish Data** – create more advanced data products
* **Integrate Data Sources** – connect databases, APIs, or IoT systems
* **Configure Policies** – define detailed usage conditions
* **Manage Participants** – add organizations to the data space
* **Operations** – monitor logs and manage users