When Resource XML file inproperly formatted, graph creation can fail with errors

[BaptisteVlt]

Hello,

I run my cacti server on Centos 7.
Recently I tried to create a new graph and I got errors after that in my logs :

--
2022/07/18 10:25:38 - ERROR PHP WARNING: Illegal string offset 'direction' in file: /var/www/html/cacti/graphs_new.php on line: 826
2022/07/18 10:25:38 - CMDPHP PHP ERROR WARNING Backtrace: (/graphs_new.php[68]:graphs(), /graphs_new.php[670]:CactiErrorHandler())
2022/07/18 10:25:38 - ERROR PHP WARNING: Illegal string offset 'direction' in file: /var/www/html/cacti/graphs_new.php on line: 670

I compare the file graphs_new.php that I've to other ones and it looks like everything is normal.
Just cause I'm curious I ran 'systemctl status cactid' on my server and I got the error :
"Failed to start Cacti Daemon Main Poller Service"
I guess there is a link between this 2 problems.
Cacti version : 1.2.21.

[TheWitness]

What data query were you using? Can you upload the Resources XML file here for us to review.

[BaptisteVlt]

I'm using data query that I found on the forum. This is data query for iDirect :
At this moment I was trying to use down snr graph.
data_query.zip

[TheWitness]

The XML files have some illegal characters in them. Notice in the attached image the following

Get rid of those illegal characters and I think the problem will be solved. I will put in a patch to mask the error, but my guess is that we should be handling this better. In any event, it's a Resource XML file issue. Occurs in all of them.

[TheWitness]

Test the update before you fix the XML files.

[BaptisteVlt]

Thank you very much. I'm sorry that I didn't notice that before ..