Build the Geometric Network

If your data set does not already have a geometric network, you will need to create one. The steps on this page walk through how the geometric network MAY be created. This is not necessarily the best way to create the network for your geodatabase. You may wish to select different options than those selected here. The Build Geometric Network tool is an Esri tool. Refer to the Esri online help for more detailed information about this functionality.

The most important points to keep in mind while building the geometric network are: be sure to include all feature classes that you listed; be sure to specify an appropriate snapping tolerance.

Network weights are what make trace tasks work. Weights are assigned during the process of building the geometric network. (For more information, see ArcGIS Help, Creating a New Geometric Network.) These steps assume that you have created features that you want to participate in tracing tasks with a field that will be assigned model name GASTRACEWEIGHT to which is assigned the GasTraceWeight (exact spelling and capitalization) weight. Check for build errors after the wizard is finished (see below).

Start the Build Geometric Network Wizard by right-clicking a dataset and selecting New | Geometric Network.
On the first dialog box, click Next to start the wizard.
Enter the name you want for the geometric network. Also, select whether you want snapping and the tolerance. Click Next to continue.

Select the feature classes you wish to include in your geometric network. A list of the classes required by Gas Tracing is displayed in the table below. You may wish to include additional classes in your network. Select the feature classes and click Next to continue.

Feature Class	Role
ControllableFitting	Simple Junction
CPBondJunction	Simple Junction
CPBondWire	Simple Edge
DistributionMain	Complex Edge
GasValve	Simple Junction
MeterSetting	Simple Junction
NonControllableFitting	Simple Junction
RegulatorStation	Simple Junction
ReliefValve	Simple Junction
RuralTap	Simple Junction
Service	Complex Edge
SqueezeOff	Simple Junction
TownBorderStation	Simple Junction

If prompted, select whether you wish to preserve existing enabled values. This example selects Yes. Click Next to continue.
The next dialog box shows the role assigned to each feature class and lets you select whether a feature class is a source or sink.
1. The roles you see in this dialog box should be the same as in the table in step 4. For example the feature class Service should have a role of Complex Edge.
2. If a feature acts as a source or sink in the network, select yes in the Sources & Sinks column (TownBorderStation in the ArcFM sample data). Click Next to continue.
In the Add weights to your network dialog box, click New. The Add New Weight dialog box opens.
In the Name field of the Add New Weight dialog box, type GasTraceWeight with this exact spelling and capitalization. For type, select integer. Click OK. The Add New Weight dialog box closes.
When you return to the Add weights to your network dialog box, assign this weight to the gas trace weight field (assigned the field model name GASTRACEWEIGHT) of every and all features participating in trace tasks.
If necessary, specify a configuration keyword.
The final dialog box provides a summary. Click Finish to build the geometric network.

Build Errors

When the wizard has finished building your network, search your database for a table whose name contains _BUILDERR. If no such table exists then there are no problems with your new network and it need not be rebuilt. If the build errors table does exist, consult the ArcGIS online documentation to learn the significance of its contents and take any necessary measures to eliminate the problems it indicates. After eliminating the causes of any network build errors, you must drop the network (and the build errors table) and build again until you get no build errors.