No acceptable target available. Buffer creates new polygons or polylines. Target must not participate in a network

Error Message

In ArcMap, when running the Buffer tool from the Editor toolbar, the following error message is displayed.

"No acceptable target available. Buffer creates new polygons or polylines. Target must not participate in a network."

Creating the buffer fails.

Cause

This is expected behavior when creating a buffer for point data using the Buffer tool in the Editor toolbar. The Buffer tool creates either a polygon or polyline feature; users are unable to add polygons to a point layer. Hence, without a polygon feature class, the buffer created cannot be stored.

Solution or Workaround

Note:
This tool creates a new feature layer which stores the buffer polygons or polylines.