{"id":451202,"date":"2019-03-13T08:00:20","date_gmt":"2019-03-13T15:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/?post_type=blog&p=451202"},"modified":"2022-07-20T17:08:06","modified_gmt":"2022-07-21T00:08:06","slug":"my-first-impressions-of-modelbuilder-in-arcgis-pro","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/analytics\/my-first-impressions-of-modelbuilder-in-arcgis-pro","title":{"rendered":"My First Impressions of ModelBuilder in ArcGIS Pro"},"author":7121,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":""},"categories":[23341,23851],"tags":[348802,24321,24331,348792,348812],"industry":[],"product":[36561],"class_list":["post-451202","blog","type-blog","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-analytics","category-data-management","tag-diagram","tag-geoprocessing","tag-modelbuilder","tag-repeatable-workflow","tag-stored-process","product-arcgis-pro"],"acf":{"short_description":"Running a multi-step procedure of geoprocessing tools over and over again? ModelBuilder lets you store your entire process!","flexible_content":[{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

For a current project of mine about redistricting, I have a six-step sequence of geoprocessing tools that I need to run for every state using ArcGIS Pro.\u00a0 Each tool has multiple parameter options that I need to set a specific way.\u00a0 I counted all the clicks I had to do for one state \u2013 21.\u00a0 Even more time consuming was the amount of running time in between all the tools that I was using, especially for the larger states.\u00a0 I do not want to do this manually 50 times!\u00a0 Fortunately for me, there\u2019s ModelBuilder.<\/p>\n

ModelBuilder allows you to string together multiple steps of a process by building a diagram that depicts your desired workflow.\u00a0 If you\u2019re familiar with graphical programming environments, or visual programming languages that use block diagrams, then you may find ModelBuilder to be similar.\u00a0 I was not used to such environments.\u00a0 I\u2019ve spent the past decade using command-line interfaces to write macros and for-loops, so when I learned about ModelBuilder, I was intrigued.\u00a0 I learned that it\u2019s a great way to make your workflow repeatable while also making a great visual representation of the whole sequence.<\/p>\n

If you want to automate a multi-step geoprocessing workflow, I encourage you to use ModelBuilder.\u00a0 In addition to having a stored process, you\u2019ll also get a visual representation of your workflow.\u00a0 To create a new model, click on ModelBuilder in the Analysis ribbon:<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":451232,"id":451232,"title":"ModelBuilder_Ribbon","filename":"ModelBuilder_Ribbon.png","filesize":66664,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/ModelBuilder_Ribbon.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/analytics\/my-first-impressions-of-modelbuilder-in-arcgis-pro\/modelbuilder_ribbon","alt":"Location of ModelBuilder on the Analysis ribbon within the Geoprocessing group.","author":"7121","description":"","caption":"Location of ModelBuilder on the Analysis ribbon within the Geoprocessing group.","name":"modelbuilder_ribbon","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":451202,"date":"2019-03-05 01:01:46","modified":"2019-04-12 20:11:57","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1065,"height":370,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/ModelBuilder_Ribbon-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/ModelBuilder_Ribbon.png","medium-width":464,"medium-height":161,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/ModelBuilder_Ribbon.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":267,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/ModelBuilder_Ribbon.png","large-width":1065,"large-height":370,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/ModelBuilder_Ribbon.png","1536x1536-width":1065,"1536x1536-height":370,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/ModelBuilder_Ribbon.png","2048x2048-width":1065,"2048x2048-height":370,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/ModelBuilder_Ribbon-826x287.png","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":287,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/ModelBuilder_Ribbon.png","wide_image-width":1065,"wide_image-height":370}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/ModelBuilder_Ribbon.png"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

This will open up a blank canvas for you to drag and drop data from your Contents pane, tools from the Geoprocessing side panel, as well as arrows to connect all the steps in your process.\u00a0 The basic chain of elements is usually Input Element -> Geoprocessing Tool -> Derived Data, shown like this:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":451252,"id":451252,"title":"Basic_Diagram","filename":"Basic_Diagram.png","filesize":17147,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Basic_Diagram.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/analytics\/my-first-impressions-of-modelbuilder-in-arcgis-pro\/basic_diagram","alt":"One-way flowchart from left (upstream) to right (downstream): Input Element, Geoprocessing Tool, Derived Data.","author":"7121","description":"","caption":"One-way flowchart from left (upstream) to right (downstream): Input Element, Geoprocessing Tool, Derived Data.","name":"basic_diagram","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":451202,"date":"2019-03-05 01:22:01","modified":"2019-04-12 20:12:19","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":843,"height":142,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Basic_Diagram-150x142.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":142,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Basic_Diagram.png","medium-width":464,"medium-height":78,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Basic_Diagram.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":129,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Basic_Diagram.png","large-width":843,"large-height":142,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Basic_Diagram.png","1536x1536-width":843,"1536x1536-height":142,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Basic_Diagram.png","2048x2048-width":843,"2048x2048-height":142,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Basic_Diagram-826x139.png","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":139,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Basic_Diagram.png","wide_image-width":843,"wide_image-height":142}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Basic_Diagram.png"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Input elements are shown in blue ovals<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 These can be layers, data tables, etc.\u00a0 In my model, I\u2019ve got one layer of polygons (Census Blocks) and one layer of lines (Intrastate District Boundaries).<\/p>\n

Geoprocessing tools are shown in yellow squares<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 Geoprocessing tools are the basic building blocks of your models.\u00a0 Common geoprocessing tools include Select, Buffer, Clip, Merge, Union, Intersect, Spatial Join, Join by Attributes, etc.\u00a0 ArcGIS Pro has over a thousand specialized geoprocessing tools for you to choose from<\/a>, which are found in specific toolboxes.\u00a0 When you drag and drop the tool you want from the Geoprocessing side panel into the ModelBuilder canvas, it will first appear gray.\u00a0 Click on it to select your input and then it will appear yellow.\u00a0 The geoprocessing tools I\u2019m using in this model are Select by Attributes, Dissolve, Copy Features, Generate Near Table, and Join by Attributes.<\/p>\n

Derived data is shown in green ovals<\/span><\/strong>, which is output from one tool that will be used as input in another tool.\u00a0 There are two types of derived data: modified input (a temporary dataset), and new output on the disk (a permanent dataset).\u00a0 If you want to make your modified input data permanent, use the one of the Copy tools appropriate for your data type, in my case Copy Features.\u00a0 You can also make a copy of a raster or a table to persist it out.<\/p>\n

Creating descriptive labels for all your model\u2019s elements is easy.\u00a0 Give the elements labels so that they are meaningful to you by right-clicking on the element and selecting Rename.<\/p>\n

If you have any inputs to a geoprocessing tool that you want to be able to control, then you can add variables.\u00a0 Variables are shown in light blue ovals<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 Variables are all non-dataset inputs.\u00a0 These can be of type string, long, double, and Boolean.\u00a0 An example of a variable would be the distance to use for a buffer tool or a search radius for density tools.<\/p>\n

In my case, the state\u2019s FIPS code is going to have to change every time I run this, so that I select the right blocks for a given state.\u00a0 In my input layer is Census Blocks, I\u2019m using a different FIPS code every time to run Select Layer by Attributes, selecting on a field called State that takes different FIPS Code values.\u00a0 This will create derived data that contains only the blocks that contain a specific FIPS Code.<\/p>\n

I also created a universal variable for the whole model called state.\u00a0 I have a light blue oval at the top of my model (unconnected to anything in the diagram) that is used to change the name of the state I\u2019m currently running.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":451272,"id":451272,"title":"Full_Model_without_Groups","filename":"Full_Model_without_Groups.png","filesize":45725,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Full_Model_without_Groups.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/analytics\/my-first-impressions-of-modelbuilder-in-arcgis-pro\/full_model_without_groups","alt":"Example multi-step model in Model Builder. Other images in this blog post will reference this base model.","author":"7121","description":"","caption":"","name":"full_model_without_groups","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":451202,"date":"2019-03-05 01:23:03","modified":"2019-04-12 20:12:54","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1423,"height":485,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Full_Model_without_Groups-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Full_Model_without_Groups.png","medium-width":464,"medium-height":158,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Full_Model_without_Groups.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":262,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Full_Model_without_Groups.png","large-width":1423,"large-height":485,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Full_Model_without_Groups.png","1536x1536-width":1423,"1536x1536-height":485,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Full_Model_without_Groups.png","2048x2048-width":1423,"2048x2048-height":485,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Full_Model_without_Groups-826x282.png","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":282,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Full_Model_without_Groups.png","wide_image-width":1423,"wide_image-height":485}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Full_Model_without_Groups.png"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

This allows me to use in-line variable substitution<\/strong><\/a> for all my path names for each output file using % symbols on each side of my variable name.\u00a0 This way, I only change the state name in one place, instead of every place I\u2019m creating output.\u00a0 For example, in the Dissolve tool, my output is set up like this:<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":451282,"id":451282,"title":"In-Line_Variable_Substitution_in_output_path","filename":"In-Line_Variable_Substitution_in_output_path.png","filesize":4881,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/In-Line_Variable_Substitution_in_output_path.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/analytics\/my-first-impressions-of-modelbuilder-in-arcgis-pro\/in-line_variable_substitution_in_output_path","alt":"Dialogue box for Dissolve tool. The input bar shows \u201c%state%_Lines_Dissolve\u201d.","author":"7121","description":"","caption":"","name":"in-line_variable_substitution_in_output_path","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":451202,"date":"2019-03-05 01:23:34","modified":"2019-04-12 20:13:18","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":376,"height":134,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/In-Line_Variable_Substitution_in_output_path-150x134.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":134,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/In-Line_Variable_Substitution_in_output_path.png","medium-width":376,"medium-height":134,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/In-Line_Variable_Substitution_in_output_path.png","medium_large-width":376,"medium_large-height":134,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/In-Line_Variable_Substitution_in_output_path.png","large-width":376,"large-height":134,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/In-Line_Variable_Substitution_in_output_path.png","1536x1536-width":376,"1536x1536-height":134,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/In-Line_Variable_Substitution_in_output_path.png","2048x2048-width":376,"2048x2048-height":134,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/In-Line_Variable_Substitution_in_output_path.png","card_image-width":376,"card_image-height":134,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/In-Line_Variable_Substitution_in_output_path.png","wide_image-width":376,"wide_image-height":134}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/In-Line_Variable_Substitution_in_output_path.png"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

When a model is running, the part that is currently executing will display in red<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 You\u2019ll also see a log window appear showing the progress.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":451292,"id":451292,"title":"Model_Running","filename":"Model_Running.png","filesize":92127,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Model_Running.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/analytics\/my-first-impressions-of-modelbuilder-in-arcgis-pro\/model_running","alt":"Example model with the step \u201cCopy Features for Selected Blocks\u201d in red (i.e. currently executing). Dialogue box shows 13% in progress bar.","author":"7121","description":"","caption":"","name":"model_running","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":451202,"date":"2019-03-05 01:24:01","modified":"2019-04-12 20:13:40","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1790,"height":711,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Model_Running-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Model_Running.png","medium-width":464,"medium-height":184,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Model_Running.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":305,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Model_Running.png","large-width":1790,"large-height":711,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Model_Running.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":610,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Model_Running.png","2048x2048-width":1790,"2048x2048-height":711,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Model_Running-826x328.png","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":328,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Model_Running.png","wide_image-width":1790,"wide_image-height":711}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Model_Running.png"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

When the model stops running, each element that has executed will appear with a drop shadow behind it in the diagram.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Setting Parameters<\/h1>\n

Models are usually stored in a Custom Toolbox that is named the same name as your ArcGIS Pro project.\u00a0 Check the Catalog pane to see where your model is stored.\u00a0 From the Catalog pane, right-click on your model and select Open, and you will see a geoprocessing dialogue box for your new custom tool!\u00a0 Anything you have set as a parameter<\/a> appears just like a control for any other geoprocessing tool.\u00a0 To set a variable as a parameter, simply right-click on the model element and select Parameter so that it appears with a green checkmark next to it.\u00a0 You will then see a \u201cP\u201d in the top-right corner of this element in your model\u2019s diagram.\u00a0 In my model, the FIPS code and the State variables are set as parameters.<\/p>\n

Create Groups<\/h1>\n

You can chunk off parts of your model into different groups by selecting all the elements you want to group together and then clicking the Group button:<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":451302,"id":451302,"title":"Group","filename":"Group.png","filesize":5249,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Group.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/analytics\/my-first-impressions-of-modelbuilder-in-arcgis-pro\/group-2","alt":"Location of Group button in the Group group. Other button is UnGroup.","author":"7121","description":"","caption":"","name":"group-2","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":451202,"date":"2019-03-05 01:24:50","modified":"2019-04-12 20:14:17","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":220,"height":187,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Group-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Group.png","medium-width":220,"medium-height":187,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Group.png","medium_large-width":220,"medium_large-height":187,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Group.png","large-width":220,"large-height":187,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Group.png","1536x1536-width":220,"1536x1536-height":187,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Group.png","2048x2048-width":220,"2048x2048-height":187,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Group.png","card_image-width":220,"card_image-height":187,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Group.png","wide_image-width":220,"wide_image-height":187}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Group.png"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

This allows you to give each of your chunks of the model a name.\u00a0 I created three different groups within my model and gave each group a descriptive name: Prep for Generate Near Table, Calculate Distance and Join Distance to Blocks, and Export.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":451312,"id":451312,"title":"Full_Model_with_Groups","filename":"Full_Model_with_Groups.png","filesize":54885,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Full_Model_with_Groups.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/analytics\/my-first-impressions-of-modelbuilder-in-arcgis-pro\/full_model_with_groups","alt":"Same example model but in three groups: Prep for Generate Near Table, Calculate Distance and Join Distance to Blocks, and Export.","author":"7121","description":"","caption":"","name":"full_model_with_groups","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":451202,"date":"2019-03-05 01:25:23","modified":"2019-04-12 20:14:41","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1423,"height":505,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Full_Model_with_Groups-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Full_Model_with_Groups.png","medium-width":464,"medium-height":165,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Full_Model_with_Groups.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":273,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Full_Model_with_Groups.png","large-width":1423,"large-height":505,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Full_Model_with_Groups.png","1536x1536-width":1423,"1536x1536-height":505,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Full_Model_with_Groups.png","2048x2048-width":1423,"2048x2048-height":505,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Full_Model_with_Groups-826x293.png","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":293,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Full_Model_with_Groups.png","wide_image-width":1423,"wide_image-height":505}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Full_Model_with_Groups.png"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

The nice thing about creating groups is that you can collapse or expand the groups so that you can view different chunks of your model separately.\u00a0 For example, I have collapsed the Prep for Generate Near Table group, below:<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":451322,"id":451322,"title":"Collapsed_first_group","filename":"Collapsed_first_group.png","filesize":30329,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Collapsed_first_group.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/analytics\/my-first-impressions-of-modelbuilder-in-arcgis-pro\/collapsed_first_group","alt":"Same example model but with \u201cPrep for Generate Near Table\u201d group collapsed.","author":"7121","description":"","caption":"","name":"collapsed_first_group","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":451202,"date":"2019-03-05 01:25:50","modified":"2019-04-12 20:15:21","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":980,"height":334,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Collapsed_first_group-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Collapsed_first_group.png","medium-width":464,"medium-height":158,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Collapsed_first_group.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":262,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Collapsed_first_group.png","large-width":980,"large-height":334,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Collapsed_first_group.png","1536x1536-width":980,"1536x1536-height":334,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Collapsed_first_group.png","2048x2048-width":980,"2048x2048-height":334,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Collapsed_first_group-826x282.png","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":282,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Collapsed_first_group.png","wide_image-width":980,"wide_image-height":334}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Collapsed_first_group.png"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

The Power of Iterators<\/h1>\n

I want to repeat this process over a list of many states.\u00a0 Why should I waste time manually entering each state and FIPS in my two variable elements when I want it to run for each state?\u00a0 You can set up an iterator if you have a list of values or inputs that you want to use in your model.<\/p>\n

There are 12 different types of iterators available<\/a>:<\/p>\n