topic Re: Toolbox tools are blank? in Geoprocessing Questions

Toolbox tools are blank - ARCMap 10

BradClay — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 12:18:28 GMT

When I open tools the tool page is blank of every tool. Ideas?
I already repaired, and updated. Nothing changed.

Re: Toolbox tools are blank?

MelitaKennedy — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 12:18:28 GMT

When I open tools the tool page is blank of every tool. Ideas?
I already repaired, and updated. Nothing changed

You may want to post this query in the geoprocessing forum. This forum is for ArcInfo Workstation, which mainly runs from the command line. Unless you're using ArcTools (not the same as ArcToolbox/geoprocessing)!

Running a search on 'arctoolbox blank' (without the quotes) turned up several forum posts with suggestions if you're using 9.3.

1. Downgrade IE from 8 to 7.
2. Rename the ESRI folder in the registry to ESRI_old (under HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/ESRI) which will force the keys to be recreated.
3. Got the correct XML files installed from http://support.microsoft.com/kb/324460 ... didn't work.
4. Deleted Normal.mxt, renamed ArcToolbox.dat. Neither helped.

Melita

Re: Toolbox tools are blank?

BradClay — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 12:18:28 GMT

Yes, I have tried some of these without resolution, I will post on geoprocessing forum. Thanks Melita

Toolbox tools are blank - ARCMap 10

BradClay — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 12:18:28 GMT

When I open tools the tool page is blank of every tool. Ideas?
I already repaired, and updated. Nothing changed

Re: Toolbox tools are blank - ARCMap 10

DuncanHornby — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 15:34:56 GMT

Are you saying the ArcToolbox contains no tools, so the whole window is blank? I used to get this problem in 9.3 and found that the only way to make them come back is to add the system tools. In ArcGIS 10 you would open ArcToolbox, right click anywhere in it and select add toolbox. In the look in drop down select toolboxes then go into system toolboxes and select everything.

Duncan

Re: Toolbox tools are blank - ARCMap 10

BradClay — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 18:59:59 GMT

Are you saying the ArcToolbox contains no tools, so the whole window is blank? I used to get this problem in 9.3 and found that the only way to make them come back is to add the system tools. In ArcGIS 10 you would open ArcToolbox, right click anywhere in it and select add toolbox. In the look in drop down select toolboxes then go into system toolboxes and select everything.

Duncan

Duncan,

The tools are there, but when I click on a specific tool the tool window opens to a blank grey panel.

Re: Toolbox tools are blank - ARCMap 10

samg — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 16:32:18 GMT

Hi,

Im getting the same problem. All the geoprocessing tools come up with a blank window!! Ive seen that this was a problem in 9.3, but all of the solutions suggested have not worked in 10.

Have you found a solution to the problem? Its very frustrating.

Sam

Re: Toolbox tools are blank - ARCMap 10

StephanieWendel — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 16:46:12 GMT

You may want to try resetting your Esri application data and registry keys. Please follow these steps to do so:

Please note: Renaming the Application data will result in loss of folder connections, SDE connections, and toolbar locations since it rebuilds the template back to the out of the box feel. Also, editing registry entries can cause issues on your computer. Please be careful when making these changes.

A) Rename ESRI Application Data folder.
- Close all ArcCatalog, ArcMap applications.
- Browse to the following directory: C:\Documents and Settings\<user profile>\Application Data (you may have to turn on hidden files).
In Windows 7/Vista:
C:\Users\Username\Applications Data\Roaming(you may have to turn on hidden files from the control panel, go to Appearance and Personalization/Folder Options/Show hidden files and folders)
- Rename ESRI folder to ESRI_OLD.

B) Rename the ESRI folder in Registry.
- Start Menu --> Run --> type "regedit"
- Expand HKEY_CURRENT_USER folder
- Expand Software folder within HKEY_CURRENT_USER
- Rename the ESRI folder to ESRI_OLD

The other good thing to check is if someone else in your company can log onto your machine with their username and password and reproduce the problem. If they also have blank tools, there is probably some kind of conflict preventing the tools from working properly. If they can use the tools, then your windows user profile has become corrupt to the install of ArcGIS and a new profile is needed for functionality to return.

Re: Toolbox tools are blank - ARCMap 10

JanuszSzmyt — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 15:52:35 GMT

It is not working in my laptop. I changed in registry ESRI into ESRI_OLD and it is not working. Blank window in tools (e.g. for composite bands) appears all time.
Can anybody help to solve this problem ???

Re: Toolbox tools are blank - ARCMap 10

HollieKitson — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 14:26:21 GMT

I'm having the same issue in 10.1. It just started about a week ago, seems like out of the blue. When I click on a tool using Toolbox the entire thing is grayed out. I can still use the tools in Python though. Has anyone found a solution to this problem?

Thanks.
Hollie

Re: Toolbox tools are blank - ARCMap 10

HollieKitson — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 14:55:13 GMT

Just got it to work. Resetting my IE settings to the default is what did the trick (open IE, go to Tools > Internet Options > Advanced Tab> Click on Reset button).

Here's the link to the discussion:
http://forums.arcgis.com/threads/29715-arcmap-10-toolbox-search-help-features-suddenly-don-t-work

Re: Toolbox tools are blank - ARCMap 10

ØivinAarnes — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 11:37:48 GMT

Thanks Stephanie Wendel!

This solved my problem (using ArcGIS 10.2.2), which I've struggled with for some time- even tried reinstalling ArcGIS.

1. shut down ArcGIS applications

2. rename registry folder (to create a new clean one) - HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ESRI

3. rename app_data roaming folder (to create a new clean one) - C:\Users\*****\AppData\Roaming\ESRI

4. reinitialize applications by running ArcCatalog

Cheers,

Øivin Aarnes

Re: Toolbox tools are blank - ARCMap 10

curtvprice — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 03:47:01 GMT

Here's a document on the subject with more details - an essential ArcGIS Desktop skill!

Resetting your ArcGIS application profile‌

Re: Toolbox tools are blank - ARCMap 10

AndySmith — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 08:31:14 GMT

The following should help troubleshoot common ArcToolbox errors: geoXchange - Technical Support Blog - Troubleshooting Common ArcToolbox errors

The error you mention is specifically to do with a registry setting:

1. Go to Start > Run and type in: regedit

2. Go to HKEY_Current_User > Software > ESRI > Desktop 10.0 > ArcToolbox > Settings.

3. Locate the binary value called DlgHelpWidth, right-click it, and choose Modify.

4. Change the value data to cc. Click OK and close registry editor.

Re: Toolbox tools are blank - ARCMap 10

UrosDjuric — Sun, 31 May 2015 23:46:27 GMT

Hi,

I had same problem ... i tried everything .... cleaning registry, deleting everything related to ESRI and ArcGIS, renaming folders in registry and app data, system restore ... even clean install of ArcGIS ... nothing helped ...

Then, i have researched the problem and I have realized that problem was in upgrading of Internet Explorer to v11 by default windows updater

So, I downgraded my IE to v 8.0 and I have set up security for ActiveX controls and plugins following instruction on this thread ArcGIS Geoprocessing Tools Scripting Error GISNuts.com

And whoa toolbox started to work like charm again...

I hope that this will help someone

Re: Toolbox tools are blank - ARCMap 10

DanPatterson_Retired — Sun, 31 May 2015 23:58:50 GMT

strange...ie use IE 11 exclusively with no issues

Re: Toolbox tools are blank - ARCMap 10

UrosDjuric — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 00:26:39 GMT

I don't know ... Just couple of days ago, I had to reinstall complete OS with disk formatting, so I had clean OS installation and clean ArcGIS installation just few days ago. After couple of automatic updates of Win7x64 via windows update I had this problem with blank toolbox windows. After downgrading IE and setting up ActiveX controls inside IE toolobx started to work again.

Re: Toolbox tools are blank - ARCMap 10

JaeOgilvie — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 13:16:03 GMT

ESRI has posted a knowledgebase technical article about the problem. It appears to be related to McAfee or Avast antivirus messing with certain registry entries.

See 41057 - Tools open with blank dialog windows

Solution or Workaround

If McAfee is currently installed and must remain in use, contact McAfee for assistance. If McAfee is installed but not required on the computer, then uninstall it before proceeding with the solution below. After McAfee antivirus software is uninstalled, follow the steps below to resolve the issue.

Download the McAfee Consumer Product Removal Tool (MCPR) and refer to the instructions: How to uninstall or reinstall supported McAfee products using the Consumer Products Removal tool (MCPR).
Navigate to the directory where the MCPR file was saved.
Right-click MCPR.exe and select 'Run as Administrator'.
Follow the prompts.
When the message is received 'CleanUp Successful', restart the computer.

Re: Toolbox tools are blank?

angerilayang — Sat, 30 Dec 2023 09:50:23 GMT

I have the same problem. Have you solved it? I can't reinstall it

Re: Toolbox tools are blank - ARCMap 10

BrianMcAuslan1 — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 00:41:13 GMT

2024 and this worked for me ty