def METHOD_NAME(arglist):
    # win32pdh.MakeCounterPath takes as it's first argument a list of parameters
    # to pass to the underlying C API.  Providing the unused parameters (commented
    # out) as "documentation" for the params; especially in the event they're
    # needed in future improvements
    # machine = arglist[0] # remote machine name
    clss = arglist[1]
    inst = arglist[2]
    # parent = arglist[3]
    # iindex = arglist[4]
    cname = arglist[5]
    # do some sanity checking
    if clss not in counters_by_class:
        raise AttributeError("class name {} is invalid".format(clss))
    if inst and inst not in instances_by_class[clss]:
        raise AttributeError("instance name {} is invalid".format(inst))
    if cname not in counters_by_class[clss]:
        raise AttributeError("class name {} is invalid".format(cname))
    if inst:
        p = "%s|%s|%s" % (clss, inst, cname)
    else:
        p = "%s| |%s" % (clss, cname)
    return p