Model Builder - preconditions

Question

I am building a procedure using the model builder, but I have a problem with some tools that require the feature class to be created previously, and sometimes even showing in the table of contents of my project.
I have tried setting the preconditions but it still won't work.

I've had this problem up to now with "select attributes" and with "join fields". Is there any way to set the model for this to work?

Thanks

AndreaBoyco · Answer

Thanks, I'll try

AmyKlug · Answer

Try Make feature layer:

http://resources.arcgis.com/en/help/main/10.1/index.html#//00170000006p000000

the input will be your output that doesn't exist yet

AndreaBoyco · Answer

no, that's not what I meant.

For example, during the procedure I want to select rows from a feature class that I created one step before; but because that file doesn't really "exist", the select tool won't run.