ModelBuilder Error 000354 Name contains invalid characters, using input selected from drop downs?

Question

I've made a simple model in ModelBuilder, which is failing at the first step saying the name has invalid characters.

The failing tool is Copy Features:

The error is:

Executing (Copy Features): CopyFeatures "Geofabric Surface Network - V2.x\AHGFCatchment" in_memory\temp123 # 0 0 0
Start Time: Wed Mar 29 17:01:20 2017
ERROR 000354: The name contains invalid characters
ERROR 000354: The name contains invalid characters
ERROR 000354: The name contains invalid characters
Failed to execute (Copy Features).
Failed at Wed Mar 29 17:01:20 2017 (Elapsed Time: 0.22 seconds)

The output name in_memory\temp123 doesn't use any strange characters or bad words.

The input name was selected from the dropdown of layers available in the MXD:

The three 0 in the tool parameters are defaults and recommended by Arc.

I'm running this tool with some data selected from two layers - the purpose is to extract just the selected data to continue working on it.

What should I try next?

Answer 1

From its documentation Copy Features:

Copies features from the input feature class or layer to a new feature class.

but you appear to be choosing a layer file instead.

Answer 2

It turns out that Arc didn't like the group layer name containing a . in '2.x'.

Renaming the group layer in the list of layers in ArcMap (not renaming on disk or in Catalogue) allowed to the tool to run.