In this example you'll see how to add a tool to a model diagram, select a layer in ArcMap to be the input data for the tool, and run the resulting process to derive new data.

This example shows a slope analysis process.

Click and drag a tool (in this example, the Slope tool) from ArcToolbox onto the ModelBuilder window. Right-click the Slope tool element and click Open or double-click the Slope tool element. Click the Input raster drop-down arrow and click the elevation layer. Layers are denoted with a yellow icon in the drop-down list. Accept the default path and name given for the Output raster parameter value. The default path is set to the scratch workspace you set earlier on the Environment Settings dialog box. Leave the default for the Output measurement parameter to calculate slope in degrees. As you did when calculating hillshade, type “0.3048” for the value of the Z factor parameter to convert the z-values to the same unit of measure as the x,y units (from feet to meters).

You can apply the current diagram properties to the process elements and center them within the display window by clicking the Auto Layout button, then clicking the Full Extent button.

You can rename the output of the process. To do so, right-click the derived data element for the tool and click Rename. In this example the new name is "slope output." Note: Renaming an element label does not alter the name of the output on disk.

You can set the process to automatically add its results to ArcMap. To do so, right-click the output data element and click Add To Display.

You can run a process within a model by right-clicking the tool element and clicking Run.

As the tool runs, its progress is documented on the progress dialog box, and the tool element that references the tool is highlighted in red. When the tool has finished running, the tool element and its derived data element become shaded, indicating that the derived data has been created on disk.