In ArcGIS 10.1, for what tools does Environments actually work?

Question

As a new user, often I have used "active" (that is, not grayed out and non-functional) Environments when using ArcToolbox Tools and the operation is non-responsive. I wish I documented for my own record what I have seen along the way, but have not, still being somewhat confused as to whether it is because I am doing something wrong. Following are two recent examples.

1) Using a raster, I have seen where

Spatial Analyst > Extract by Polygon > Environments > Raster Analysis 
and changing the cell size will not change the cell size; 

and

2) using a raster

Data Management > Resample > Environments > Raster Analysis > 
Mask will change the cell size but not mask.

Since the combination of operations that are not allowed by ArcGIS do not result in grayed out inactive buttons or a warning message, is there some list that tells what Environment operations can and can't be done with the various ArcToolbox Tools?

Answer 1

At the bottom of the help page for each tool, ESRI provides a list of the environments that can impact the tool's processing.

For example, the Resample help page does not include Mask in its list. It does not include Cell Size in its list either, because the cell size option that is a direct and required input to the tool would overwrite it anyway.

The Extract By Polygon page does list Cell Size in its environments. If it's not working for you, submit a bug report to ESRI. I just tested it in 10.3.1, and it works just as advertised.