docs/developers/ocean.py/consume-flow.md

---
description: This page shows how you can get datatokens & download an asset
---

# Consume flow

We assumed that you accomplished the publish flow presented previously.

Now let's see how can Bob get access to Alice's asset in order to download/consume it.

### Get access for a dataset 🔑

Below, we show four possible approaches:

* A & B are when Alice is in contact with Bob. She can mint directly to him, or mint to herself and transfer to him.
* C is when Alice wants to share access for free, to anyone
* D is when Alice wants to sell access

<figure><img src="../../.gitbook/assets/giphy.webp" alt="" width="199"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

In the same Python console:

```python
from ocean_lib.ocean.util import to_wei

#Approach A: Alice mints datatokens to Bob
datatoken.mint(bob, to_wei(1), {"from": alice})

#Approach B: Alice mints for herself, and transfers to Bob
datatoken.mint(alice, to_wei(1), {"from": alice})
datatoken.transfer(bob, to_wei(1), {"from": alice})

#Approach C: Alice posts for free, via a dispenser / faucet; Bob requests & gets
datatoken.create_dispenser({"from": alice})
datatoken.dispense(to_wei(1), {"from": bob})

#Approach D: Alice posts for sale; Bob buys
# D.1 Alice creates exchange
price = to_wei(100)
exchange = datatoken.create_exchange({"from": alice}, price, ocean.OCEAN_address)

# D.2 Alice makes 100 datatokens available on the exchange
datatoken.mint(alice, to_wei(100), {"from": alice})
datatoken.approve(exchange.address, to_wei(100), {"from": alice})

# D.3 Bob lets exchange pull the OCEAN needed
OCEAN_needed = exchange.BT_needed(to_wei(1), consume_market_fee=0)
ocean.OCEAN_token.approve(exchange.address, OCEAN_needed, {"from":bob})

# D.4 Bob buys datatoken
exchange.buy_DT(to_wei(1), consume_market_fee=0, tx_dict={"from": bob})
```

For more info, check [Technical Details](https://app.gitbook.com/o/mTcjMqA4ylf55anucjH8/s/BTXXhmDGzR0Xgj13fyfM/\~/changes/336/developers/ocean.py/technical-details) about ocean.py most used functions and also the smart contracts for [Dispenser](https://github.com/oceanprotocol/contracts/blob/main/contracts/pools/dispenser/Dispenser.sol) & [Fixed Rate Exchange](https://github.com/oceanprotocol/contracts/blob/main/contracts/pools/fixedRate/FixedRateExchange.sol).

### Consume the asset ⬇️

To "consume" an asset typically means placing an "order", where you pass in 1.0 datatokens and get back a url. Then, you typically download the asset from the url.

Bob now has the datatoken for the dataset! Time to download the dataset and use it.

<figure><img src="../../.gitbook/assets/200w.webp" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

In the same Python console:

```python
# Bob sends a datatoken to the service to get access
order_tx_id = ocean.assets.pay_for_access_service(ddo, {"from": bob})

# Bob downloads the file. If the connection breaks, Bob can try again
asset_dir = ocean.assets.download_asset(ddo, bob, './', order_tx_id)

import os
file_name = os.path.join(asset_dir, "file0")
```

Let's check that the file is downloaded. In a new console:

```bash
cd my_project/datafile.did:op:*
cat file0
```

The _beginning_ of the file should contain the following contents:

```bash
% 1. Title: Branin Function
% 3. Number of instances: 225
% 6. Number of attributes: 2

@relation branin

@attribute 'x0' numeric
@attribute 'x1' numeric
@attribute 'y' numeric

@data
-5.0000,0.0000,308.1291
-3.9286,0.0000,206.1783
...
```