stuck in Lesson 7c, part 6B

Mary_AnneCarletta · ‎04-02-2013

One of my students has done Lesson 7 several times, and gotten stuck in 7c several times. Originally when she ran the model, only one layer was added to the map, LA River Buffer, instead of the expected 3 layers.

Now when she opens the model (Park Suitability Analysis), it says it has no parameters and has no outputs when she clicks "Run". I've had two or three other students successfully complete this section, so I know it works. Any idea what's going wrong for her?

TimOrmsby · ‎04-03-2013

Hi macarletta,

re first issue about the model adding just one layer to the map: we've seen this too, intermittently and inconsistently, and unfortunately don't know the cause of it. We noted in the intro text to the next step (Step 7 on p. 264) that it might happen. After the model has been run, your student can right-click the green output elements (for the layers that should have been added and weren't) and choose Add To Display. This should add them to the map in the desired way. Failing that, the layers can still be added by dragging and dropping the output feature classes from the ModelBuilderOutputs geodatabase to the map. The feature class for the Recommended Sites layer will be called RecommendedSites (if it's named the same as in the book) and the feature class for Park Access Zones Pop will be called ParkAccessZones_SpatialJoin.

Re second issue about no parameters: it sounds like your student is right-clicking the model and choosing Open rather than Edit. When you Open the model, it opens as a geoprocessing tool. By default, it has no parameters. (Setting up the model to run as a geoprocessing tool is what Exercise 7d is all about.) To run the model from the Model window--which is what happens in Exercise 7c--you have to Edit it. Hopefully, that's it. If not, we probably need to look at the model. Have your student open Windows Explorer, navigate to the MapsAndMore folder, right-click the toolbox (ParkPlanningModels.tbx, which contains the model) and Send To a compressed zip file. Then email the zip file to UnderstandingGIS@esri.com and we'll try to troubleshoot it.

Tim

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TimOrmsby · ‎04-03-2013

Hi macarletta,

re first issue about the model adding just one layer to the map: we've seen this too, intermittently and inconsistently, and unfortunately don't know the cause of it. We noted in the intro text to the next step (Step 7 on p. 264) that it might happen. After the model has been run, your student can right-click the green output elements (for the layers that should have been added and weren't) and choose Add To Display. This should add them to the map in the desired way. Failing that, the layers can still be added by dragging and dropping the output feature classes from the ModelBuilderOutputs geodatabase to the map. The feature class for the Recommended Sites layer will be called RecommendedSites (if it's named the same as in the book) and the feature class for Park Access Zones Pop will be called ParkAccessZones_SpatialJoin.

Re second issue about no parameters: it sounds like your student is right-clicking the model and choosing Open rather than Edit. When you Open the model, it opens as a geoprocessing tool. By default, it has no parameters. (Setting up the model to run as a geoprocessing tool is what Exercise 7d is all about.) To run the model from the Model window--which is what happens in Exercise 7c--you have to Edit it. Hopefully, that's it. If not, we probably need to look at the model. Have your student open Windows Explorer, navigate to the MapsAndMore folder, right-click the toolbox (ParkPlanningModels.tbx, which contains the model) and Send To a compressed zip file. Then email the zip file to UnderstandingGIS@esri.com and we'll try to troubleshoot it.

Tim