Sorting integer field in ArcGIS Modelbuilder and using smallest value as variable for tool?

I have to populate a new field using a formula containing the smallest value of an existing field.

As this is a small part of a larger model I am wondering which is the most efficient method.

My thoughts are as follows:

1. Sort the field ascending and somehow use the top value or


2. Use a formula to search for the smallest integer greater than zero and use this value as a variable?

Which method would be most viable with ModelBuilder from ArcGIS 10.3.1 for Desktop?

Answer

To do this I would use Summary Statistics to get the minimum value into a one row table, and then use the Get Field Value (Model Only tool) to read that row and field.

A very similar technique is described in Examples of using Model Only tools in ModelBuilder.