Search and filter elements in a model

Depending on the size of your model, it may be difficult to find an element with a specific name or type. You can search and filter to find a specific element in ModelBuilder.

Search for elements

To search for a model element, type the name of the element in the Search text box in the upper right of the model view. As you type, you will see a list of suggested model elements that match the characters you typed. Choose an element name from the suggestions list to select the element in the model.

Regular expressions can be used to search for model elements. The table below contains examples using regular expressions.

Example	Action	Result
Polygon	Select elements that match the exact keyword.
Polygon*	Find elements that start with the characters before *.
*Polygon	Find elements that end with the characters after *.
Polygon&Raster*	Find elements that contain multiple keywords.
*Polygon*	Find elements that contain characters between two *.
*[()]*	Find elements with any character in a list [ ].
Buffer|Near	Find elements that match keywords on either side of |.
Buffer|(*Near*)	Find elements that match one keyword and contain another keyword.
Buffer|Near*	Find elements that either contain a keyword or begin with a specific keyword.

Search results

If the search returns multiple selected elements, use the Next and Previous arrows to browse the selected elements. Previous search history can be accessed from the Recent Searches drop-down menu.

Filters

Filters in a model help refine the search results. Checking multiple filters returns elements matching any of the selected filters. When you apply filters, the model zooms to selected elements that match the filter. When the filter is unchecked, the model zooms back to the original level.

Filter	Action
All	Selects all model elements
Inputs	Selects input variables (blue ovals)
Outputs	Selects tool outputs (green ovals)
Parameters	Selects variables that are model parameters
Parameters with filters	Selects model parameters with filters
Add to display	Selects variables with Add To Display checked
Intermediate data	Selects variables with Intermediate Data checked
Symbology	Selects variables with defined symbology
Model tools	Selects model tools, nested models, or submodels
Built-in-tools	Selects built-in-tools in the model
Script tools	Selects script tools in the model
Elements with precondition	Selects elements with preconditions
Inline variable substitution	Selects elements that use inline variable substitution

When all filters are unchecked, no model elements are selected.

You can combine filters and search to find elements that meet both the filter and the search criteria. For example, searching for an element with the keyword *Polygon* and the Parameter, Add To Display and Model Tools filters checked will select elements with the word Polygon in the name that are a model parameter, have Add To Display checked, or are a model tool.