1. In an electronic device that provides a modeling environment, a method for containing data associated with a model in the modeling environment, the method comprising: displaying, using the electronic device, a model workspace for the model that is independent of the model and exclusively associated with the model in a first user interface element; in response to a selection of the model workspace in the first user interface element, displaying, using the electronic device, a second user interface element for providing an option for selecting a data source to initialize the model workspace, the data source being separate from the model; and storing, using the electronic device, data associated with the selected data source in the model workspace for the model.