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Model Builder Tool Changes Input Layers

LukeGilner1

I keep having an intermittent issue with several different models. When I run them from the toolbox, one or more of the original input layers will randomly change to a different layer. This mostly happens when I reopen my project the next day, but not always. Sometimes the underlying layer within the model properties changes, sometimes is does not, but the labels always stay correct.

I found that when I open the tool from the toolbox and before running it in the geoprocessing pane, if I switch to a Layout and then back to the Map view, the tool refreshes and often changes back to the correct layer.

The input layers are hosted feature services and I have them set as parameters. I'm using Pro 2.8.3.

Am I doing something wrong, or is this a bug, or just a refresh issue? PLEASE HELP

See the picture below. The top two parameters are my input layers. You can see that the first one changed to a different layer in the dropdown. But the correct layer is shown in the model, and when I open the tool properties everything is correct this time (sometimes it changes though).

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jcloutier

Hi @BhargavCSA, we appreciate you sharing a potential bug with the broader Esri Community; however, Esri does not actively track software defects posted here. The official channel for investigating and validating bugs is Esri Technical Support. All customers experiencing a potential software bug should leverage technical support to report and investigate the issue.

By reporting bugs through technical support, Esri can better track the scope and impact of the issue across all our customers and better prioritize it with our product teams. Our teams can also investigate the issue more thoroughly to see if there is a solution, workaround, or patch to get you back up and running as soon as possible.

As a reminder, Esri Community is primarily a self-service support platform where Esri users can ask or answer each other’s questions, share feature requests, and collaborate to solve problems with GIS.

*Note that this is a scripted message prompted when posts allude to a potential product bug.

BhargavCSA

It seems like this bug hasn't been resolved, I am still facing the same issue in 2024

LukeGilner1

I never reported to ESRI since the models were running correctly. I'm using 3.0.0 and still experience the glitch consistently. For your QC can you just hover over the inputs in your model to see if they are correct? Otherwise try sending it to a Python window to view the code there; even if you're not familiar with Python you'll be able to see the layer input names, or the wrong ones.

NinaRihn

I am also having this issue... I went in to QC some of my processes and it appeared that I had used the wrong inputs, but in checking my model results, I hadn't... so this is making my model QC much more difficult! I am using ArcGIS Pro 2.9.5. Did any of you ever report this to Esri? do you see this problem happen in 3x?

LukeGilner1

Even though they show up wrong in Model Builder, the models appear to run correctly through the Toolbox. I haven't been remapping any of my models. If I have parameters on the model, I just change it to the correct layer(s) when I go to run it. Or if there are no parameters, it just runs correctly. You could check by sending the model to a Python window - it should show the layer names correctly in there.

TrinaNair

I'm experiencing this issue as well. Very painful to always go in and remap the layer.

lindsey.greidanus_gsuinc

I am having this issue as well, it seems to occur after closing and opening the program.

tahunt01

I'm experiencing this issue as well.

MatthijsAlberts

Same here. In 3.0.3 this still occurs. It doesn't matter whether I'm running it from modelbuilder or from toolbox. Changing feature layers in the map seems a (the?) trigger.

The only 'solution' is to remove the feature layer from the model and add it again. Changing it from the popup doesn't work. Why doesn't Arcgis have a steady link to the feature layer.....?

LukeGilner1

I would suggest to run your models through your toolbox. As long as it's set up correctly in the model builder initially, it seems to run correctly through the toolbox. However, if you edit it in model builder, you may have to re-edit all the layers so they are correct again.

AmberMillison

I am still having this issue in 2023! ESRI, any fixes or workarounds to this bug? Toggling between a layout and back to the model seems to work but it's frustrating to have to keep checking if the model inputs are correct. I am running my model on 2.9.5.

MajaJensen

I'm having the same issue. For me it doesn't matter wether the inputs are shapefiles or feature classes, and it doesn't matter wether I drag and drop them from the map, select them from the drop down-list or if navigate to their location on the server. Very frustrating!

Anonymous User

Thanks for the response! That workaround sounds pretty similar to what I've been doing as well. I also thought it had something to do with add/removing layers, but that turned out not to be the case.

DianaHenderson1

The best I can provide, since Luke highlights what seems to occur on my end as well; I navigate to the file rather than just select from the dropdown list. This appears to have alleviated most of the issues, and I haven't been able to test the full process yet.

modelbuilderFix.PNG

LukeGilner1

Nope. Most of the time it seems adding/removing layers to the map is the culprit, but not always. In model builder, when you hover over the tool it appears to show the correct layers, but when you open the tool it doesn't show the correct layers. I always run my models through the toolbox. If the layers are set as parameters in the tool, I just change it to the correct layers and the models runs correctly as it's supposed to. Or just remove the parameters and the model appears to run correctly as well. Hope this helps.

Anonymous User

Did you ever figure out what was causing the inputs to shift? I'm experiencing the same issue.

LukeGilner1

I was using feature services. Let me know what you find out. It seemed like most of the time the problem would happen after I added or removed layers from my contents.

DianaHenderson1

I am testing out a theory, I was initially using shapefiles for some of my inputs, and I have now converted those inputs into a feature class. I haven't completely tested this, and so far it is promising. I saw something in a blog that prompted me to try it.

LukeGilner1

Thanks! At least I'm not the only one. I was finding that even though the layer changed in the parameters, when I export the model to python, the layers were correct. Seems like there's a little glitch in there on the model builder side of things. In most cases, my parameters didn't need to change anyway, so I just ended up removing the parameters to run the tools.

DianaHenderson1

Sorry, don't have an answer for you, I just want to echo, that the same frustrating thing is happening to me:(

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