topic Customize parameter behaviour in Modelbuilder? in ArcGIS Pro Questions

Customize parameter behaviour in Modelbuilder?

EvelynHsu — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 15:34:05 GMT

Are there ways to customize parameter behaviours in a model in ArcMap 10.8.1?

Specifically, I'd like to enable one model parameter only when another parameter (boolean type) is True.

In a script tool, I can achieve this by editing ToolValidator class. Can something similar be done with a model?

Re: Customize parameter behaviour in Modelbuilder?

DanPatterson — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 15:29:44 GMT

preconditions perhaps, for example

If Value Is (ModelBuilder)—ArcGIS Pro | Documentation

Re: Customize parameter behaviour in Modelbuilder?

EvelynHsu — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 15:33:44 GMT

Thanks Dan. Perhaps I should add that I'm using ArcMap 10.8.1. Not the most ideal option...gotta make do with what is available 😕

Re: Customize parameter behaviour in Modelbuilder?

DanPatterson — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 15:39:34 GMT

meaning you are left with

A quick tour of using preconditions—ArcMap | Documentation (arcgis.com)

Using If-Then-Else logic for branching—ArcMap | Documentation (arcgis.com)

Re: Customize parameter behaviour in Modelbuilder?

EvelynHsu — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 13:56:13 GMT

Unfortunately preconditions and if-else logic don't quite give the same behaviour with model parameters.

Preconditions and if-else logic can be used to control whether a step (say, Step A) should be executed. But, if parameters of Step A have been marked as model parameters, then regardless of whether Step A is executed, its parameters are always marked as mandatory parameters of the model and input values are expected.

What we wanted is the ability to conditionally enable model parameters in modelbuilder: if Step A does not meet the precondition, then its parameters should also be optional.

Re: Customize parameter behaviour in Modelbuilder?

DanPatterson — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 08:58:47 GMT

I don't see how that can be accomplished in modelbuilder, you may have to examine what is available via python's validation and switch from a model to a python tool, probably in Pro and not arcmap

Re: Customize parameter behaviour in Modelbuilder?

EvelynHsu — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 05:54:59 GMT

Marking this as the solution as I couldn't find any other way to achieve it either. In the end we decided to switch to a python tool.