The Toolboxes folder in the ArcCatalog tree contains two folders: a My Toolboxes folder and a System Toolboxes folder. The My Toolboxes folder points to a location on disk that can be changed in the Geoprocessing tab of the Options dialog box. It is the location used for new toolboxes created inside the ArcToolbox window. The My Toolboxes folder also contains a History toolbox within which history models are created automatically for each session, recording the tools and parameter values used.

The System Toolboxes folder contains the toolboxes that come with ArcGIS. The Toolboxes folder is not added to the ArcCatalog tree by default.

To view system toolboxes in the Catalog tree, click the Tools menu and click Options. Click the General tab and check Toolboxes, then click OK on the Options dialog box. Expand the Toolboxes folder, then expand the System Toolboxes folder to view the toolboxes that are available.

Each toolbox contains a set of system tools that can be used to geoprocess your data.

The ArcToolbox window provides a way to centralize the location of the tools you use most frequently. You can remove toolboxes you don’t use often from the ArcToolbox window and add them back at any time. The ArcToolbox window is dockable inside any ArcGIS Desktop application.

To open the ArcToolbox window, click the Show/Hide ArcToolbox Window button on the Standard toolbar.

The window is placed within the application. Its position may vary depending on the windows you have open.

To dock the ArcToolbox window under the ArcCatalog tree window, click and drag the bar at the top of the ArcToolbox window, place the ArcToolbox window over the ArcCatalog tree, then drop the panel. The outline of the ArcToolbox window helps you to place it in the desired position.