Cannot create topology

Error Message

Attempting to create a new topology from within ArcCatalog produces the following error message:

"Cannot create topology.
The selected feature dataset does not contain any feature classes which can participate in a topology."

Note:
This article applies to retired ArcGIS versions 9.x and 10.0. Later versions of ArcGIS may contain different functionality, as well as different names and locations for menus, commands and geoprocessing tools.

Cause

There are no feature classes in the selected feature dataset that can participate in a topology. There are several reasons for a feature class to be excluded from participating in a topology:

• The feature class already participates in a topology or geometric network
• The feature class is an annotation or dimension feature class
• The feature class is registered as versioned

Solution or Workaround

Determine the reasons each feature class is unable to participate in the topology and reevaluate whether that feature class should participate in the topology.