Can I write a document that is compilable with both latex and xetex?

Question

I have just started to have a look at XeTeX and I am wondering whether to make the switch, however I am a bit scared... ...and I am basically wondering if I have to take the step fully or if I can have my document running on both engines somehow?

There seems to be some problems with utf8 encodings but can they be solved?

related question: http://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/2984/frequently-loaded-packages-differences-between-pdflatex-and-xelatex — matth, May 02 '12 at 09:26

score 33 · Accepted Answer · edited Aug 07 '12 at 14:21

33

You can use ifxetex to insert code meant only for one engine. Basically you will have to adapt inputenc (don't load it with xetex), font loading, perhaps language setup (babel/polyglossia), perhaps some driver options (but in general packages load the correct driver automatically).

\usepackage{ifxetex}
\ifxetex
 \usepackage{fontspec}
 %font commands
\else
 \usepackage[utf8]{inputenc}
 \usepackage[T1]{fontenc}
 %font packages
\fi

edited Aug 07 '12 at 14:21

StackExchange saddens dancek

103

answered Apr 06 '11 at 14:40

Ulrike Fischer

327,261

4

\ifxetex requires the ifxetex package, of course. – wasteofspace Apr 06 '11 at 18:28
1

And there's \ifluatex all the same. – raphink Aug 07 '12 at 14:54
Maybe a little problem with the aux files, like .toc by example, if you use non ascii character. – jpayansomet Mar 21 '13 at 19:35

Can I write a document that is compilable with both latex and xetex?

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