Grouping

Grouping in a model allows you to assemble processes into logical units. These groups can be collapsed to represent several processes as a single process, or expanded to edit the processes within the group.

Creating groups

There are two ways to create a group.

  • On the ModelBuilder tab, click the Group button Group. This adds an empty group to the model. You can add model elements to the group by dragging them into the group.
    Drag elements into a group
  • Select existing model elements and click the Group button Group on the ModelBuilder tab. Alternatively, you can right-click the selected elements and click Group.
    Select model elements and group

You can create groups within groups. To add a new empty subgroup to an existing group, right-click the expanded group and click Create Group. To add selected model elements within an existing group to a new subgroup, right-click the selected elements and click Group.

Auto layout

The Auto Layout button in the View group on the ModelBuilder tab applies layout changes to the entire model. While groups might be moved when using Auto Layout, the elements inside the group will not be rearranged.

To automatically arrange only the elements inside a model group, right-click the group and select Auto Layout Group. Elements outside the group will not be affected.

Learn more about Auto Layout

Note:

It is recommended that you use discretion when creating groups. For example, grouping all of the input variables in your model into one group is not recommended. When such a group is collapsed, it is visually difficult to understand the connected processes without expanding the group. The groups should follow a logical grouping of processes with their connected inputs and outputs.

Note:

Currently, you cannot add an iterator to the group. If you want to iterate, you can create submodels.

Rename

To rename a group, right-click the expanded or the collapsed group and click Rename. You can also double-click the group label to edit the group label.

UnGroup

Select the group or the subgroup and click the UnGroup button UnGroup on the ModelBuilder tab. Alternatively, right-click a group and click UnGroup. This will remove the group and place the elements in the parent model or group. To remove individual items, click and drag the element out of the group.

Save a group as a new model

To save a group as a new model in a toolbox, right-click the group and click Save As Model, then browse to the location and specify a name for the new model.

Route group links

To reset only the links inside a model group, right-click the group and click Route Group Links. Links between elements outside the group will not be affected.