Unable to copy and paste new features to a geometric network in ArcMap

Description

When copying and pasting features from a shapefile or a feature class into an existing geometric network in Edit mode, the build geometric network operation fails and returns the following generic error message:

Error:   
The operation was attempted on an empty geometry.

Cause

The geometric network is unable to identify and build connectivity for new features because the target feature class does not have the same spatial reference and extent as the source feature class. When m- or z-values are enabled in the Geometry Properties section for the source feature class, but not enabled for the target feature class, the build geometric network operation identifies the difference in feature class properties and stops the operation.

Solution or Workaround

1. Create a new feature class with m- and z-values enabled.

Note:
M- or z-values can only be enabled when creating a new feature class and cannot be enabled for an existing feature class. To set m- and z-values to an existing feature class, create a new feature class and import the existing features into the new feature class.

1. In the ArcMap Catalog window, create a new feature class by right-clicking the target file geodatabase, and select New > Feature Class.
2. In the New Feature Class window, specify a feature name, and select the type of features.
3. In the Geometry Properties section, enable the check boxes for m- and z-values, and click Next.

4. Set other feature class properties such as the coordinate system, x,y tolerance, and the database storage configuration. For more information on setting feature class properties, refer to Defining feature class properties.
5. Import fields from the old feature class into the new feature class, and click Finish.

2. After creating the new empty feature class, run the Append tool to add the features from the existing feature class to the new feature class.
3. Use one of the options below to load new features into a geometric network:

Note:
The Network Incremental Loader command is applicable only if all the features are new and none of the features are present in the target feature dataset. If some features in the data to be loaded are in the existing dataset, all features are added again, creating duplicates of the existing features.

1. In the Table Of Contents, select a target feature class that participates in the geometric network, and click the Network Incremental Loader icon  on the Editor toolbar.

Note:
To access the Network Incremental Loader command, click the Customize menu > Customize Mode > Commands. When the Customize dialog box opens, click the Data Converters category, and drag and drop the Network Incremental Loader command onto the Editor toolbar. Close the Customize dialog. 

2. Click the Add Data button to add the source data in the Source feature classes to load box, and click Next.

3. Select the source feature class for each target feature class.

4. Click Next and Finish.

Note:
The Load Objects command is applicable only if all the features are new and none of the features are present in the target feature dataset. If some features in the data to be loaded are in the existing dataset, all features are added again, creating duplicates of the existing features.

Note:
To access the Load Objects command, click the Customize menu > Customize Mode > Commands. When the Customize dialog box opens, click the Data Converters category, and drag and drop the Load Objects command onto the Editor toolbar. Close the Customize dialog.