Cannot use Natural Neighbor when a table is joined to a feature class

Question

I was trying to use Natural Neighbor to interpolate some concentrations. I joined an Excel table with the concentrations to my feature class based on site location ID. I was able to successfully see the join in the attribute table. I selected the feature class and the Z-Value, sheet1$.value, in the Natural neighbor window and click Run.

Every time I executed the tool, an error was produced: ERROR 010134: Input does not contain a feature class. I know I selected the input feature class and the Z-Value, so what's the deal?

Is this a bug, or am I not allowed to use the Z-Value of a joined table in this tool?

I was able to get around this bug, but I feel that the tool is malfunctioning.

Thanks,
Andrew

SamanthaBolton · Answer

I had the same problem, and I fixed it by exporting the data to create a new feature class.

curtvprice · Answer

Persist the Join (i.e. CopyFeatures to new FC), can the field be used?
Does IDW work?

I second the suggestion. (Hi Steve!) My guess is the tool is balking at the $ in the field name.

SteveLynch · Answer

Andrew

Persist the Join (i.e. CopyFeatures to new FC), can the field be used?
Does IDW work?
Can your use one of the joined fields to do Buffer (i.e. use your joined field in the Field control)?

Thanks
Steve