Module 01: Portal Overview

The OpenDataDSL Web Portal is the browser-based window onto the platform. You use it to browse master data, chart timeseries and forward curves, monitor data deliveries and processes, run reports and set up notifications, all without writing any code.

Learning Objectives​

By the end of this module you will be able to:

• Sign in to the portal with your company account
• Find your way around the left-hand menu and its sections
• Use the home screen and the search box
• Understand what master data is and how everything else hangs off it
• Organise your own workspace with favourite groups

Prerequisites​

• A user account in your company's OpenDataDSL tenant
• A modern web browser (the portal also works on mobile)

Step 1: Sign In​

1. Go to portal.opendatadsl.com
2. Select the blue Sign In button in the top right corner
3. Sign in with your normal company (Microsoft) credentials

The first time anyone signs in, Microsoft may ask you to accept some permissions for the OpenDataDSL application. If you are the first person from your company, you are asked for the company name. Everyone is then asked for a few personal details. This only happens once, and the details can be changed later in the portal.

Step 2: The Home Screen​

After signing in you land on the Home screen. It shows a summary of your vital statistics as widgets:

• The status of your process executions over the past 24 hours (running, success, failed)
• A count of the public curves and timeseries
• A count of the public objects by type

Select the menu button at the top right of a widget for more options, and select a chart to jump to that part of the portal.

Step 3: The Left-hand Menu​

The menu on the left groups the screens into sections. The exact list depends on your company's set-up, but these are the screens you will use most in this track:

Extensions add more items, often in sections such as Information, Operations or Manage. For example, the Automations extension adds Operations, Automations, which you will use in Module 08.

Step 4: Searching​

There are two ways to find things.

The search box at the top of the portal lets you type words to look for quickly.

Filters on screens such as Master Data and Data let you narrow a list precisely:

1. Go to Master Data
2. Select public from the sources dropdown
3. Select Add filter and choose source
4. Select the source box and choose ECB

You now see only the master data records supplied by the European Central Bank.

Search terms​

When you type words into a search box, they are matched against the id, name and description of each item. All the words must be present, so more words means fewer results:

Step 5: Understanding Master Data​

Master data (also called an object) is the record that represents a real-world thing: a commodity, a trading hub, a data source, a counterparty. Everything else is attached to it:

• Properties: descriptive information such as name, description and category
• TimeSeries: values over time, such as a daily settlement price
• Curves: forward curves, one for each valuation date (the ondate)
• Events: time-bounded records such as trades or nominations
• Reports and documentation linked to the record

Every data item has an id made of the master data id and the data name, joined by a colon. For example #ECB_FX.EURGBP:SPOT is the SPOT timeseries on the #ECB_FX.EURGBP record.

Step 6: Your Workspace​

Favourites​

Favourites are groups of master data records or data items that you can get back to quickly. They are available from the Favourites button on the Master Data and Data screens.

• A dynamic group saves a filter, so new matching items appear automatically. Build the filter, then select the save button and fill in the group details.
• A static group is a list you maintain yourself. Find an item, select the Add to group button, and add it to an existing group or a new one.

Selecting a group takes you back to the screen, showing only the items in that group.

Settings and account​

• Settings lets you personalise the portal
• Account management lets you update your personal details, and lets administrators manage company settings

Exercise​

1. Sign in to the portal and look at the home screen widgets. How many process executions failed in the last 24 hours?
2. Go to Master Data, choose the public source and filter on source ECB
3. Search for EURGBP and open the record you find. Which data items are attached to it?
4. Create a static favourite group called My training items and add the record to it
5. Open Favourites and select your new group

Summary​

Further reading: Web Portal guide, Home screen, Favourites, Find Data