Will I be able to do this?

[nemoprofeta]

I'm developing a game in which I need to access external data in XML format, to drive AI and other things.
Is it possible, in UDK, to access XML through unrealscript or to call functions of external dll's?

[ambershee]

Take a look at using TCPLink and an external application interfacing with UDK. This will be the only way.

[nemoprofeta]

Take a look at using TCPLink and an external application interfacing with UDK. This will be the only way.

Wow, very quick answer. Thank you.
I was reading the Unrealscript reference and I found this sentence:
Though most functions are written directly in UnrealScript, you can also declare functions that can be called from UnrealScript, but which are implemented in C++ and reside in a DLL
Wouldn't I be able to write my XML parser in C++, compile it in a DLL and call it from a script?
Is TCP link a feature of UnrealScript? Where can I find documentation about it?

[ambershee]

You won't be able to use DLLs from within UDK, consider it one of the main limitations. TCPLink should be a feature of the scripts however. It's probably largely undocumented, but you should be able to find the script file without too much difficulty.

[nemoprofeta]

You won't be able to use DLLs from within UDK, consider it one of the main limitations. TCPLink should be a feature of the scripts however. It's probably largely undocumented, but you should be able to find the script file without too much difficulty.

So, in what sense DLL's can access UnrealScript and vicecersa, as reported in the above cited sentence?

[ambershee]

You can write an application that accesses libraries / DLLs on UDK's behalf, and have it work with UDK by means of TCPLink.

[Steve Polge]

TCPLink is documented at http://udn.epicgames.com/Three/TcpLink

[Denny]

TCPLink is not publicly available.

[Nuky]

It is; Steve pasted the wrong URL (https)

http://udn.epicgames.com/Three/TcpLink.html

[Steve Polge]

Try http://udn.epicgames.com/Three/TcpLink

[whitetigersamurai]

Is the TCPLink suitable for external control
- e.g. if I want to control, say, the camera position in real-time (frame-rate) using an external controller
- I can write the external interface code in C++
- but is the TCPLink fast enough to handle real-time coordinates etc?

Thanks!