user defined input in model builder

[ShikoNjuno]

I'm trying to create a tool in model builder that will run only when the user has selected a specified area of interested by selecting the area on the map.
I have the input .shp file as a feature set but it's still not interactive enough to allow the user to do this.
If anyone can offer any suggestions...
Thanks folks.
Shiko

[DuncanHornby]

Shiko,

Sounds like you want to be using FeatureSets, have a look here.

Duncan

[ShikoNjuno]

Thanks Duncan, but I actually read through this section and I'm still not sure what tool to use to actually allow the user to select on the map the area of interest. Is there an icon or something to let the model know that the user needs to select the area first as a parameter??

Shiko

[DuncanHornby · Accepted solution]

You would need to create a FeatureSet in your model, expose as parameter, ensure schema is set to any old polygon layer, then when you OPEN the model from toolbox you have an iteractive method for selection features. See attached image.

[ShikoNjuno]

You would need to create a FeatureSet in your model, expose as parameter, ensure schema is set to any old polygon layer, then when you OPEN the model from toolbox you have an iteractive method for selection features. See attached image.

:)This is awesome....except...where do I find the Select by location tool?? All I see under Data Management is the Select Data tool.

[ShikoNjuno]

:)This is awesome....except...where do I find the Select by location tool?? All I see under Data Management is the Select Data tool.

Never mind....I found it....thanks 😄

[TaitRounsaville1]

You would need to create a FeatureSet in your model, expose as parameter, ensure schema is set to any old polygon layer, then when you OPEN the model from toolbox you have an iteractive method for selection features. See attached image.

If you wanted to then run analysis on the selection would anything else need to be done beforehand? All this does is select the attributes, but what tool would put them in a temporary .shp so that say Summary Statistics can then be run on them?

[DuncanHornby]

If you wanted to run summary statistics tool then that should be OK as that will work with the current selection, so no need to export to a separate layer. But if you want to keep the selection as a separate sub-set of data then the Select or Copy Features tool would allow you to export the selection.