Negative buffer from field fails

[MarkusMathey]

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

[michaelcollins1]

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

[MarkusMathey]

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

[MelitaKennedy]

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

[MarkusMathey]

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

[MelitaKennedy]

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

[MarkusMathey]

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

[WeifengHe]

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.