Introducing the new geoprocessing framework
Release 9.1 Last modified April 26, 2005	Print all topics in : "Welcome to ArcGIS Desktop 9.0"

ArcGIS 9.0 presents a comprehensive set of geoprocessing tools that work with all the supported data formats, including geodatabase features. It also offers a completely new framework for working with these tools that enables you to open them individually, combine them in a visual modeling environment, write scripts in standard scripting languages, and run the tools as commands in a command line window. With this new geoprocessing environment, ArcGIS 9.0 completes the transition of ESRI's geographic information system (GIS) tools to the desktop that began with the introduction of ArcGIS 8. ArcGIS 8.x provided a new framework for managing, sharing, mapping, and editing data, along with a comprehensive new data model—the geodatabase. Now, ArcGIS 9.0 completes the picture with a powerful new environment for putting that data to work.

New ArcToolbox window

In ArcGIS 8.x, ArcToolbox was a standalone application. At 9.0, ArcToolbox is a dockable window integrated into all the ArcGIS Desktop applications. For example, when you run tools from the ArcToolbox window in ArcMap, you can use the layers of the current map as inputs, and the outputs can be added directly to the map as new layers.

• The geoprocessing framework is common to all the ArcGIS Desktop applications and is included with each of the ArcGIS Desktop products—ArcInfo, ArcEditor, and ArcView. The number of geoprocessing tools you'll see in the ArcToolbox window depends on the product and extensions you're using.
• ArcInfo is the primary platform for advanced GIS analysis and modeling and provides a complete set of geoprocessing tools (approximately 200). If you install ArcInfo Workstation, these tools include the Coverage Tools toolbox, which contains a complete set of ArcInfo analysis, conversion, and data management tools for use with coverage data.
• ArcEditor and ArcView have the standard map-based analysis tools commonly associated with project work.
• More than 200 additional tools are provided by the ArcGIS extensions, such as ArcGIS 3D Analyst and ArcGIS Spatial Analyst.


Here's what you'll see in the ArcToolbox window if you're an ArcInfo user and you've installed ArcInfo Workstation and all the ArcGIS extensions released with 9.0:




• When you look inside a toolbox, you'll notice the tools it contains are usually organized into toolsets.





What you'll see in a toolbox





Icon	Name	Description
	Toolset	A container for organizing the contents of a toolbox.
	Tool	Runs an underlying function in the geoprocessing framework.
	Script	Can be written in any Common Object Model (COM)-compliant scripting language, such as Python, JScript, or VBScript. An ArcInfo Workstation ARC Macro Language (AML) can also be added to a toolbox as a script.
	Model	You can view and edit these in the new integrated ModelBuilder window.



• You can reorganize and save the contents of the ArcToolbox window as desired. You can also create your own toolboxes. To add a new, empty toolbox to the ArcToolbox window, right-click ArcToolbox at the top of the tree and click New Toolbox. Once you've created a new, empty toolbox, you can add existing tools and scripts to it and create models in it. For example, to create a new model in the empty toolbox you've just added, right-click the toolbox to get its context menu, point to New, and click Model.


• Toolboxes you create can be stored as .tbx files in folders or stored directly in geodatabases making it easy to manage, distribute, and share custom tools, models, and scripts. For example, all the tools created by a GIS department for use with a particular enterprise geodatabase can be stored in that geodatabase and accessed and updated centrally. It's easy to package models and scripts that you make as tools for others to use. When you double-click a model you've created, you'll see a dialog box prompting you for the inputs. You only see the visual model or the actual script if you want to. In fact, several of the standard conversion tools provided in 9.0 are actually models or scripts that run underlying functions, which means you can inspect them to see how they work.


• An integrated Documentation Editor makes it easy to create documentation and metadata for models, scripts, and toolboxes. Documentation you create for models and scripts can be accessed by the Help panel of the dialog box that appears when they are started or by right-clicking them in ArcToolbox and clicking Help. Documentation for toolboxes can be accessed by right-clicking them in ArcToolbox and choosing Help. Metadata for the contents of toolboxes can be accessed by clicking the Metadata tab in ArcCatalog.

Using the geoprocessing framework

• There are five ways to perform geoprocessing at 9.0 summarized in this table:

Method	Description	Use
Tool dialog box	A form in which input data and other necessary parameters are defined. Fully embedded context sensitive Help is provided.	Run any geoprocessing tool from any application. Get familiar with a tool and its parameters.
Model	An interactive visual model that links processes, data, and parameters. Models are created and edited in the integrated ModelBuilder window.	Build models, work flows, and processes without scripting or programming. Document or present a process. Explore alternative scenarios. Present methodology and work flow to others.
Command line	The dockable Command Line window offers usage popups for commands, autocompletion, and so forth.	Run tools quickly without opening their dialog boxes. Useful shortcuts for advanced users. Already familiar to long term ArcInfo users.
Script	File written using a standard scripting language, such as Python, JScript, or VBScript.	Automate repetitive tasks. Fully control processes based on any condition, state, time delay, and so forth. Brings the traditional working environment for advanced GIS users to support the full range of ArcGIS Desktop functionality.
ArcObjects	Geoprocessing objects can be accessed in the ArcGIS development environment to create custom tools and applications using Visual Basic 6, C++, Visual Basic .NET, and C#.	Incorporate tools into new and existing applications. Create custom dynamic link libraries (Dells) that incorporate geoprocessing tools. Create custom toolbox functions (ALL, EXE, or OCX).

• Geoprocessing tools can be started directly by double-clicking the tool in the ArcToolbox window. This will open the tool's dialog box so you can specify the necessary input and execute the tool.


• You can also create models that will execute a sequence of geoprocessing functions. For example, an output data source that is projected in one function becomes the input for an overlay function.

Models are viewed and edited using the integrated ModelBuilder window. The ModelBuilder window allows you to drag and drop tools and data into the model diagram to build processes that can be connected to a logical flow. You can run a model from the ModelBuilder window and inspect the flow of control. Models can also include scripts and other models as steps. You can save models in toolboxes and use them as tools or distribute them to other users. A model can also be exported from the ModelBuilder window as a script, so you can build a process as a model, export it as a script, then add automation or advanced flow of control.

• Geoprocessing tools can also be used in scripts to allow the automation of repetitive processes or complex flow of control. Scripts have traditionally been the staple working environment of long term ArcInfo users. At 9.0, scripts are back. Scripts can include calls to geoprocessing tools, models, and other scripts. Scripts are easy to author in the COM compliant scripting environment of your choice, such as Python, VBScript, and JScript. After a script is authored, it can be distributed to users as a standard tool and embedded in other models or scripts similar to any other tool.

Support for existing ArcInfo Workstation ARC Macro Language (AML) scripts via ArcToolbox has been improved. Any AML can be added as a script in a toolbox at 9.0, not just those that execute Arc commands as in ArcToolbox 8.3. The only stipulation is that the AML start in the Arc module, then it can go to ArcEdit, ArcPlot, ArcGrid, and so on. In ArcToolbox 8.3, the dialog box for running an AML-based script was limited to one text box for all the arguments. At 9.0, you can define individual parameters for AML-based scripts, similar to any other tool, script, or model you create. You can specify the parameter types, and the system will validate input values against them. You can also add coded value or range domains to a parameter. The AML-based script you've created can be used as any other geoprocessing tool—you can run it as a standalone tool from the ArcToolbox window, add it to a model as a processing step, run it from the geoprocessing Command Line window, or call it from another script.


• The geoprocessing environment includes a dockable Command Line window. This window provides a straightforward way to run any tool, model, or script and makes repetitive tasks quick and easy, similar to command line executions in ArcInfo Workstation. Messages are shown in the lower part of the window to document the progress of tools run in a session. Tools can be reexecuted by interacting with the window. The Command Line window is available in any ArcGIS Desktop application and can be docked to the application's window.

Type the first few letters of a command in the upper panel and a scrolling list will pop up containing the commands that match what you typed. Once you've typed a command, its usage appears in a tip, and additional popup lists make it easy to fill in options and keywords. You can also press F1 to access the full Help topic about the command you are using.

Right-click inside the upper or lower panels in the Geoprocessing window to access a menu of additional commands.

You can use the Up and Down Arrow keys to navigate between your recent commands. You can also recall a particular command by either right-clicking inside it in the lower panel and choosing Recall from the menu that appears or by double-clicking it.


• A set of new spatial statistics tools are included with 9.0. You can find these in the Spatial Statistics Tools toolbox in the ArcToolbox window. These tools work with all license types except for the following four tools, which require an ArcInfo license:


• Cluster/Outlier Analysis with Rendering
• Hot Spot Analysis with Rendering
• Count Renderer
• Z Score Renderer

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