XML for Script Issue

[eelinow]

Hello,

I recently was assigned a project that involves addition additional reports to our cacti setup at my work place which revolves around custom data scripts' results being integrated into our existing setup.
I am however having a bit of an issue with the XML piece of the equation.

The script I have produced needs to be run against a multitude of hosts. It is as such:

scriptname.xx hostname option_argument_1

The hostname changes (obviously) and the option_argument_1 returns a specific set of information. I need to run this for several different optional_arguemnts for each host (though not always the same options) across our network and whilst going through the cacti examples and what not, I keep faltering at the XML document piece of the puzzle.
In the <arg_xxxxx> and <index_xxxx> prefixed fields, to what do they related? The rest of the documentation makes complete sense, but this area of said documentation seems incomplete/lacking and I would just like to get this project completed (as every other piece of it has been done).

Sincerely,
Eric Elinow

Software Engineer
Blue Gravity Communications, Inc.
http://www.bluegravity.com
http://www.codedevl.com

[gandalf]

Please see http://docs.cacti.net/node/225 for setting up Data Queries
Reinhard

[eelinow]

This isn't (from all that I can ascertain) answer my question. In fact, is an XML document necessary for my results in the first place.

If I have a program that runs in the shell, takes just the hostname for input and spits out the following:
a:12 b:43 c:91340 d:4393

Would I even need an XML file, these are simple colon separated key value pairs. How can I see cacti results of its attempts to query and update data based upon this script?

Appreciatively,
Eric

[ahhdem]

if that is all the output you have, you need to create a data input method, not a data query. A data query is for returning information on a variable set of indexable devices (disks, interfaces, etc.)

if your output is as you describe, you need not an XML template. I believe this may be a more applicable post:

http://docs.cacti.net/node/200