topic Negative buffer from field fails in Data Management Questions

Negative buffer from field fails

MarkusMathey — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:02:24 GMT

Hello everyone,

I am using ArcView Desktop 9.3.1 (3D-/Spatial Analyst ext.) to modify a polygon-shape. When I try to create a negative buffer of my polygons by specifying the individual (negative) buffer distance in the attribute table and selecting the buffer distance from field, I receive the following error message:

ERROR 000109: The buffer distance cannot be negative for lines and points. Failed to execute (Buffer).

The buffer distance is very small relative to the polygon circumference. Of course, the input polygon-shape does not contain neither lines nor points. I carried out a geometry check and repair with no desirable results. I also reinstalled GIS.

Can anybody help me to solve this problem?

Regards,
Markus

Re: Negative buffer from field fails

michaelcollins1 — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:42:54 GMT

Silly question, but are you sure they are polygons and not closed polylines?

Re: Negative buffer from field fails

MarkusMathey — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 18:44:22 GMT

Yes, I am very much sure that I work with polygons.

Re: Negative buffer from field fails

MelitaKennedy — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 19:50:45 GMT

This is a long shot: what coordinate system is the polygon data in? Do the buffer distances match the units of the coordinate system? I could see if the data was in a geographic coordinate system, but the buffers are in meters, the buffers could be collapsing.

Melita

Re: Negative buffer from field fails

MarkusMathey — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 07:02:00 GMT

Hi Melita

I am working in a non-specified (unknown) coordinate system and use metric units. It is not a geographic system.

The shape-file contains several hunderd polygons, each in average 80 qm in size. The applied buffer distance is about -0.5 m. But I also tried various other buffer distances without success.

Creating inside buffers works well if I specify a single distance manually, the problem only occurs when I try to buffer from field. However, since each polygon has his own distinct buffer distance, the 'manual' option does not work for me.

Any ideas?

Markus

Re: Negative buffer from field fails

MelitaKennedy — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 17:32:26 GMT

Hi Markus,

Hmmm, there was NIM039228 which matches your problem but it was fixed in 9.3.1. It reappeared in 10.0, and was fixed in sp1 (NIM060606). I haven't been able to find any other open bugs for it.

Melita

Re: Negative buffer from field fails

MarkusMathey — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 10:33:41 GMT

A colleague of mine has tried to solve the problem with an ArcInfo 9.2 version. When he buffers the polygons with specified distances from field, he does not get the same error message.

Instead, the buffer process will stop at a given polygon number and the following error report appears:

Cannot buffer feature X by -0.440000. Failed to execute.

The buffer distance, in this case, was in deed specified in a field (float, precision= 4, scale= 2) as beeing -0.44. When I delete the specific polygon then the same error occures for another feature.

Markus

Re: Negative buffer from field fails

WeifengHe — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:29:00 GMT

Hi Markus,

If possible, can you please provide the polygon and the negative buffer distance you use so we can have a look into it?

Thanks.