Error creating contour - failed to copy raster dataset

I just ran into this issue with ArcGIS 10.2.2 ArcCatalog.

I'm running a script tool that runs CreateConstantRaster and I get exactly the same GDAL error.

(esriDataSourcesRaster:GdalDriver") Failed to copy raster dataset

then error 010240 Could not save raster dataset to C:\system32\temp\g_g7634

The tool runs fine from ArcMap.

Setting ARCTMPDIR to a writeable folder before launching ArcCatalog solved my problem.

This is covered in the KB article I referenced above, under a link labeled "show me".

The easiest way to get to user environment variables in Win 7 is to enter "env" in the search box on the start menu.

Ah! Thank you! Now I see. I think the first time around I ended up in the wrong KB article. For some reason the link didn't take me all the way to 29559. But I got it now. I appreciate it.

Well, that makes good sense. My problem is I am new to ArcGIS and don't know how to set ARCTMPDIR.

This is covered in the KB article I referenced above, under a link labeled "show me".

The easiest way to get to user environment variables in Win 7 is to enter "env" in the search box on the start menu.

Anna/Donald:

It's a much better fix to set the environment variable ARCTMPDIR to a writeable location (best practice- a local disk drive).

Well, that makes good sense. My problem is I am new to ArcGIS and don't know how to set ARCTMPDIR. Could you point me to some step-by-step instructions.

I do appreciate your help. Thanks!

AM

Thanks for the note. Yes, it did have to do with to do with administrative permissions.
When I run ArcGIS as Administrator it is ok.

Anna/Donald:

That's because as administrator you do can write garbage to the aformentioned system32 folder. Not that you really want to,and not that you want to be logged in as administrator while doing your work (this is extremely hazardous to your computer's security). You should only use admin accounts while installing software or making system tweaks, and DEFINITELY not when not browsing the web or reading email.

It's a much better fix to set the environment variable ARCTMPDIR to a writeable location (best practice- a local disk drive).

Thanks for the note. Yes, it did have to do with to do with administrative permissions.
When I run ArcGIS as Administrator it is ok. What I didn't know is that in Windows 7 there is a difference between "Run as Administrator" and just running a program under a user account that is a member of the Administrator group. That's an awfully subtle but important distinction.

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-windows_programs/difference-between-run-as-administrator-and/58e7ed23-a704-4f4d-b59e-4dd29d442ff1

and links therein

I also found out that instead of always having to right-click on the ArcMap shortcut to access the "Run as administrator" one can go to "Properties" (also accessed through right-click) then go to the "Compatibility" tab and check "Run this program as administrator". Then it will always run with full administrator privileges. Looks like that solved the problem.

AM

I am trying to run IDW interpolation with barriers. The process fails to convert the barrier into a shapefile in the Windows\System32 folder (where I don't have full write permission).

Have you tried either setting ARCTMPDIR to a writeable location, or starting ArcMap in a folder you have write access to? This has been an issue with topological processing in ArcGIS and the IDW barriers functionality may use some of that code.

KB 29559 - Problem: Certain geoprocessing tools will not execute or work unless the user is an administrator

(By the way, setting the current and scratch workspace to the same location [preferably a folder workspace] is best practice for heavy raster processing, so even if it didn't help you this time, it's a good idea anyway.)

I am trying to run IDW interpolation with barriers. The process fails to convert the barrier into a shapefile in the Windows\System32 folder (where I don't have full write permission). First of all I don't understand why it needs to convert the barrier into a shapefile, even when I provide it in the form of a shapefile. But more importantly, I would really like to know how to redirect Spatial Analyst to a different folder. I saw somebody had the same problem years ago. An ESRI person suggested to set the current and scratch workspace to some other folder. That does not resolve the isse. It is STILL trying to write to the system32 folder.
In the old thread the problem never seemed have been resolved. So I am starting a new one.
I would really appreciate getting this resolved.

Anna-Maria Mueller

Try using a smaller extent or larger interval

TraceyOwens

I changed my environment settings within the contour tool. I changed the workspace to the database I am currently using; instead of the ArcGIS default gdb.

I am using version 10.0 sp 5. I was running the tool in ArcMap.

ClaireInbody

Same issue for me, but dont think its a system32 folder issue. Its just fails creating the contour data. Anyone get this resolved??

GreggHadish

Same exact issue here.

The folder it's trying to write the GRID to (C:\Windows\System32 ) is read only and requires admin privileges as dictated by user profiles assigned by our IT. I can't find anywhere in the environment settings where I can redirect it to a folder in which I do have permission to write.

Permissions are a recurring issue here (nearly exclusively with ESRI software) and there is no negotiating for increased admin privileges.

William were you able to resolve this issue; I have the same issue where ArcGIS is trying to write to the System32 directory where there is a permissions issue (not writable).
Thanks

RandyRandolph

OK, I found it: the windows environment/system variable ARCTMPDIR

http://support.esri.com/en/knowledgebase/techarticles/detail/29559

There is a difference between temp space and the scratch workspace ...

Thanks anyway,
Randy

RandyRandolph

despite defining c:\t as my scratch space in ArcCatalog, I get a message that appears to be a permissions problem for \windows\system32 when running PathAllocation in python script and from toolbox/ArcCatalog

arcpy.PathAllocation_sa("U:/Clusters2006/h99B99p30/h99B99p30_s","C:/t/PathAll_h99B1","U:/Clusters2006/imped_h/g99Bi30pir","#","#","BINARY 1 45","#","BINARY 1 -30 30","#","#","VALUE","#","#")

leading to

Messages
Executing: PathAllocation U:\Clusters2006\h99B99p30\h99B99p30_s C:\t\PathAll_h99B1 U:\Clusters2006\imped_h\g99Bi30pir # # "BINARY 1 45" # "BINARY 1 -30 30" # # VALUE # #
Start Time: Wed May 30 09:26:33 2012
ERROR 010029: Unable to create the raster C:\windows\system32\t_t017. Path Distance mapping is Failed
ERROR 010067: Error in executing grid expression.
Failed to execute (PathAllocation).
Failed at Wed May 30 09:26:34 2012 (Elapsed Time: 1.00 seconds)

if I run the same thing on a machine that doesn't have a locked-down windows directory, it executes correctly

arcpy.PathAllocation_sa("U:/Clusters2006/h99b99p30/h99b99p30_s","C:/t/PathAll_h99b1","U:/Clusters2006/imped_h/g99bi30pir","#","#","BINARY 1 45","#","BINARY 1 -30 30","#","#","VALUE","#","#")

and

Messages
Executing: PathAllocation U:\Clusters2006\h99b99p30\h99b99p30_s C:\t\PathAll_h99b1 U:\Clusters2006\imped_h\g99bi30pir # # "BINARY 1 45" # "BINARY 1 -30 30" # # VALUE # #
Start Time: Wed May 30 09:32:44 2012
Succeeded at Wed May 30 09:35:45 2012 (Elapsed Time: 3 minutes 1 seconds)

This doesn't happen with other spatial analyst items like: KernelDensity, Flow, Sink, and map math functions.

what can I change?

Thank you,
Randy

William

What version of ArcGIS are you running?
Please set your current and scratch workspace to a location where you have write access to.
What format is the raster in, fgdb, grid, tif, img or ?
What format are you writing to ? (shapefile, fgbd, ?)

Can you try with grid input and shapefile file output ?

Thanks
Steve

WilliamWood

Same exact issue here.

The folder it's trying to write the GRID to (C:\Windows\System32

) is read only and requires admin privileges as dictated by user profiles assigned by our IT. I can't find anywhere in the environment settings where I can redirect it to a folder in which I do have permission to write.

Permissions are a recurring issue here (nearly exclusively with ESRI software) and there is no negotiating for increased admin privileges.

Could you zip the input DEM and email it to slynch@esri.com ?

or

External users who need to FTP a file to Esri should be instructed to login to ftp://ftp.esri.com/ using the anonymous login and providing their e-mail address as the password if prompted (Note: Most browsers and FTP clients will log in using the anonymous account automatically).

Once connected, the external users should navigate to the pub/incoming folder, create directories as needed and upload their content.

Thanks
Steve

DavidStrip

License type: ArcView
Version 10, SP3
Saving to file geodatabase
Failure in original message was with 10' contour interval
Retried with 100' interval, success after 15 minutes, 17 seconds.
Tried with 20' interval - ran for a while, showing progress, then failed at 15 minutes with 9999 error msg and no other info - just "Failed to execute (Contour)"