Creating Original vs. Final comparison in latex (like in word)

[Bijesh Mishra]

Hi,

I am writing manuscript in overleaf. For R&R, I need to track what I changed in my R&R version compared to original submission. I found "change" package, where I can use \added{}, \deleted{}, and \replaced{}{}. I am also using Elsevier package. When use "\documentclass[final, review, 12pt, authoryear]{elsarticle}" , the "final" overwrites all the changes and only final write appears on the compiled pdf. When I use "preprint" or "draft", overleaf does not produce pdf. I am not sure what is wrong. Anyone can help?

[Peter Flynn]

On 05/06/2026 01:31, Bijesh Mishra wrote:
> Hi,

Welcome!

> I am writing manuscript in overleaf. For R&R, I need to track what I
> changed in my R&R version compared to original submission. I found
> "change" package, where I can use \added{}, \deleted{}, and
> \replaced{} {}. I am also using Elsevier package.

OK

> When use "\documentclass[*final*, review, 12pt, authoryear]

> {elsarticle}" , the "final" overwrites all the changes and only
> final write appears on the compiled pdf.

That sounds correct.

> When I use "preprint" or "draft", overleaf does not produce pdf.

a) Does the log file give any errors or warnings? (The log file is
created in the same folder as your document, with the same name but it
ends with .log instead of .tex)

b) Do you get the same behaviour using a full installation of TeX Live?
(can you find someone with a full installation to test it?)

Overleaf is good but it does not support everything. Have you asked them?

> I am not sure what is wrong. Anyone can help?

The documentation for elsarticle (mine is v3.3 dated 2020) does not
mention the changes package, so there may be an undocumented conflict. I
think you need to ask Elsevier about this (elsar...@stmdocs.in)

Peter

[Stefano Giacomelli]

Hello,

I think you can try the LatexDiff tool: https://3142.nl/latex-diff/ (check for instructions and packages to be added for correct compilation of the diff.tex file)

Best

Stefano Giacomelli

B.A. in Electroacoustic Music Composition (Conservatory of Music “A.Casella”, L’Aquila)

M.A. in Sound Technology (Conservatory of Music “A.Casella”, L’Aquila)

Ph.D. candidate in ICT (DISIM dpt., University of L’Aquila)

Il giorno 5 giu 2026, alle ore 02:46, Peter Flynn <angleb...@gmail.com> ha scritto:

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[Saurabh Kumar]

+1 for LaTeXDiff.

For journal revisions, I generally find it easier than manually wrapping changes with \added{} and \deleted{}. You keep a copy of the original submission and the revised manuscript, then generate a diff document automatically showing insertions and deletions.

If you're working in Overleaf, there are online tools available as well. I built one that supports both pasting .tex files and uploading complete LaTeX project ZIPs (including multi-file projects with \input{} and \include{}).

https://thelatexlab.com/latexdiff-online/

[Bijesh Mishra]

Thank you, Peter.

I tried offline using Tex Live Utlilty using TexShop. I got same error.

I asked overleaf and waiting to hear from them.

Asking Elsevier might be a good idea. I will try that as well.

Thanks for the suggestions. They are all helpful.

Best

Bijesh

[Bijesh Mishra]

The tool you mentioned gave me relatively better results compared to what I have so far. However, it was unable to identify changes in matrices.

However, this is a helpful tool. I will bookmark it for sure.

Thanks

Bijesh

[Bijesh Mishra]

This tool was unable to produce pdf. The log file says out of memory. But I don't think that is the case.

Detailed log file with error message below:

<*> "R&R vs Original Diff V2.tex" *** (job aborted, file error in nonstop mode) Here is how much of TeX's memory you used: 4 strings out of 467886 127 string characters out of 5434056 425018 words of memory out of 5000000 28661 multiletter control sequences out of 15000+600000 626825 words of font info for 40 fonts, out of 8000000 for 9000 1141 hyphenation exceptions out of 8191 0i,0n,0p,1b,6s stack positions out of 10000i,1000n,20000p,200000b,200000s ! ==> Fatal error occurred, no output PDF file produced!

This is pdfTeX, Version 3.141592653-2.6-1.40.27 (TeX Live 2025) (preloaded format=pdflatex 2025.10.27) 5 JUN 2026 15:17 entering extended mode \write18 enabled. %&-line parsing enabled. **"R&R vs Original Diff V2.tex" ! Emergency stop. <*> "R&R vs Original Diff V2.tex" *** (job aborted, file error in nonstop mode) Here is how much of TeX's memory you used: 4 strings out of 467886 127 string characters out of 5434056 425018 words of memory out of 5000000 28661 multiletter control sequences out of 15000+600000 626825 words of font info for 40 fonts, out of 8000000 for 9000 1141 hyphenation exceptions out of 8191 0i,0n,0p,1b,6s stack positions out of 10000i,1000n,20000p,200000b,200000s ! ==> Fatal error occurred, no output PDF file produced!

[Gildas Cotomale]

Hello Bijesh,

Thank you, Peter.

I tried offline using Tex Live Utlilty using TexShop. I got same error.

I asked overleaf and waiting to hear from them.

[…] 

> When use "\documentclass[*final*, review, 12pt, authoryear]
> {elsarticle}" , the "final" overwrites all the changes and only
> final write appears on the compiled pdf.
That sounds correct.

> When I use "preprint" or "draft", overleaf does not produce pdf.
a) Does the log file give any errors or warnings? (The log file is
created in the same folder as your document, with the same name but it
ends with .log instead of .tex)

b) Do you get the same behaviour using a full installation of TeX Live?
(can you find someone with a full installation to test it?)

Overleaf is good but it does not support everything. Have you asked them?

I just wante to point out that Overleaf online can display logs and other extra files.

See https://tex.stackexchange.com/a/456099/23418

You can also download all the project files, so you can view aux-and-logs offline

See https://tex.stackexchange.com/a/388663/23418

Well, accoding to package documentation at https://ctan.org/pkg/changes, "final" and "draft" are supported but not "preprint". Most packages using such document options are created/tested for/against standard class (no one can claim to support all classes around and future ones) and elsevier has its own modifications. So I agree that you should contact them, but please try to provide a MWE so we can validate the clash with you.

Regards.