topic Re: Multiple Ring Buffer - no 'outside only' option? in ArcGIS Pro Questions

Multiple Ring Buffer - no 'outside only' option?

clt_cabq — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 15:39:04 GMT

I'm trying to create multiple ring buffers of a set of points and am finding that the 'Outside Only' option isn't available - the checkbox doesn't appear in the dialogue. When I try and run this as a python command using the "OUTSIDE_ONLY" parameter it fails and gives me the error of 'value is not member of Full'. My goal is to create concentric ring like buffer zones around points that are 0-0.5 miles, 0.5-1 mile, and 1.0 - 1.5 mile distances. Is this a bug or has functionality been dropped (according to the documentation it should be available).

Re: Multiple Ring Buffer - no 'outside only' option?

BarryNorthey — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 16:26:18 GMT

From the Help

Outside_Polygons_Only

(Optional)

Specifies whether the buffers will cover the input features. This parameter is valid only for polygon input features.

FULL—Buffers will overlap or cover the input features. This is the default.
OUTSIDE_ONLY—Buffers will be rings around the input features, and will not overlap or cover the input features (the area inside the input polygon will be erased from the buffer).

Re: Multiple Ring Buffer - no 'outside only' option?

clt_cabq — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 16:32:40 GMT

oh dear, i missed that that limitation, sheesh. Is there another approach to doing what I want but with points?

Re: Multiple Ring Buffer - no 'outside only' option?

DanPatterson — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 16:49:48 GMT

buffer the point, then multi-ring buffer the buffer,

or take the convex or concave hull of the point cloud and do the same

Re: Multiple Ring Buffer - no 'outside only' option?

clt_cabq — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 17:08:22 GMT

Ultimately my solution was to do a half mile buffer of the input points, then a 1 mile buffer of points, then a multi-ring buffer of 0.5 miles with outside polygon only for the half mile, then the same thing for the one-mile buffer. Otherwise you end up with 'inner' polygons. At the end of the day I end up with 3 feature classes, that I can merge together into a single one if i wanted, or use all 3 as inputs to the count overlaps tool. Its a really bizarre problem that shouldn't be as difficult as it is.