ArcGIS 10.1 ModelBuilder: Data displayed, Multiple ring buffer causes Error 999999

Question

I am trying to make a flow of processes in ModelBuilder, connecting multiple tools:

• import polygon dissolved it,
• intersected with another files, and

• selected desired polygons by attributes("ZONA" = 'A' AND "Shape_Area" >= 30).

  UNTIL HERE WORKS GREAT

• create buffers by Multiple Ring Buffer - DOES NOT WORK !!!!

I can successfully display my Selected polygons (OUTPUT).

However, when I run "Buffer" or "Multiple Ring Buffer" tools in ModelBuilder on OUTPUT , I've got back: 999999 Error executing function.

What can be wrong with my OUTPUT data, if I can display them, but can't run the buffer analysis? And more important, how can I fix that error? Maybe save my polygons by another tool (something like Collect values ..) that would prevent the problems?

EDIT:

All my data have defined coordinate system, are single part polygons (results from Multipart to single part Tool), cover area max of 6000 hectares (60 km2). I am working on ArcGIS 10.1, Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit.

Answer 1

I have found the multiple ring buffer tool to be a bit flakey as it is a python script tool presumably calling ArcObjects behind the scene. These unhelpful generic error messages can often be a result of malformed geometries and the alarm bell that is going off for me is that you used the intersect tool.

You give no indication of the data you are processing (that would have been helpful) or the complexity of your data. Are they simple single polygons or massively multi-part, overlapping and covering thousands of square kilometres? If it is the latter you would likely need to dice up your data. For future reference you need to be much more descriptive about your data when trying to track down these generic errors.

I suggest you run a repair geometry tool before you attempt to run the multi-ring buffer tool.