Problem: Validating a geodatabase topology densifies curves

Article ID:	35880
Bug Id:	N/A
Software:	ArcGIS - ArcEditor 9.2, 9.3, 9.3.1 ArcGIS - ArcInfo 9.2, 9.3, 9.3.1 ArcGIS Engine Runtime 9.2, 9.3, 9.3.1 ArcGIS Server 9.2, 9.3, 9.3.1
Platforms:	Windows 2000, XP, Vista

Description

When using ArcGIS 9.3 or ArcGIS 9.2 Service Pack 6, validating a geodatabase topology densifies true (parametric) curves. Where polygon features share an edge containing a true curve, the shape of one of the features is changed into a series of straight segments.

This issue may be experienced only if the following four conditions are met:
1. ArcGIS 9.3 or ArcGIS 9.2 SP6 is installed.
2. There are polygon feature classes containing true curves that participate in a geodatabase topology. Topologies without true curves are not affected.
3. The true curves are coincident or overlap with other true curves.
4. The topology has been validated on ArcGIS 9.3 or ArcGIS 9.2 SP6. Other operations that create or modify true curves are not affected.

If this issue has been experienced, ESRI recommends that a backup of data is retrieved, if available.

Cause

This is a known issue with ArcGIS 9.3 and ArcGIS 9.2 SP6.

Solution or Workaround

The issue has been addressed in ArcGIS software updates, which include a utility to help the user automatically fix the densified segments resulting from this specific software issue and replace them with true curves.

1. Download and install the appropriate ArcGIS service pack and/or patches:

ArcGIS 9.3 users: ArcGIS 9.3 Service Pack 1 (resolves the software issue) and the ArcGIS 9.3 Service Pack 1 (Desktop, Engine, Server) Geodatabase Topology Parametric Curve Utility Patch (installs the utility).

ArcGIS 9.2 SP6 users: ArcGIS 9.2 SP6 (Desktop, Engine, Server) Geodatabase Topology Parametric Curve Patch (one patch resolves the software issue and installs the utility).

2. Start ArcMap.

3. Add the topology and the layers that participate in it.

To use the utility, the affected feature classes must participate in a geodatabase topology. The topology does not need to have any rules.

If using data from an ArcSDE geodatabase, run the utility on the DEFAULT version.

4. Add the Editor and Topology toolbars.

5. Start editing.

6. On the Main menu, click Tools and click Customize.

7. Click the Commands tab.

8. In the Show commands containing 'text box', type revalidate. -show me-

9. In the Topology category, click the Revalidate Topology command, and drag it onto the Topology toolbar. -show me-

10. Close the Customize dialog box.

11. Click the Revalidate Topology button that was added to the Topology toolbar.

12. When prompted, click Yes to validate the topology. This validates the entire topology, so the elapsed time depends on the size of the data.

The Revalidate utility only needs to be run once on a topology. To validate the topology in the future, use the regular validation commands on the Topology toolbar.

13. Save the edits.

14. Optionally, to remove the Revalidate Topology button, open the Customize dialog box, drag the icon off the toolbar, and close the Customize dialog box.

Related Information

Created: 11/25/2008
Last Modified: 9/18/2009