====Creating a Data Source====

Every data source is itself an ARDI asset, so you'll need to make sure you've created an asset to represent your I/O module, database server etc.

You should quickly check out our [[Asset Guidelines|asset guidelines]] if you are still yet to create these assets.

Once you've built an asset to represent the data source, go to the Details on that asset (ie. by pressing 'Details on the [[dashboard|dashboard]] or on the [[sidebar|sidebar]]) then go to 'Data Sources' in the 'Navigation' panel.

{{dsources.png}}
 
Now find the [[contexts|context]] and pick between the [[Live Driver|live]] and [[Historical Driver|historical]] driver types, before hitting the button to create the source.

{{dsourcesetup.png}}

Note that you **must** have already installed a suitable [[driver|driver]] before you can link an asset to a data source. Without the driver, you won't be able to proceed. 

The next step is actually //using// this data source, To do so, you'll need to set up at least one [[data linking|data link]].

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See our [[Data Source Configuration Example]]