Automatic latexdiff on Overleaf

This example compares two complete LaTeX revisions and generates a visual PDF diff automatically. It uses word-level matching, so a short shared phrase such as system provides remains unchanged while new is shown as a deletion.

Files

• texchanges-original.tex, the earlier revision.
• texchanges-revised.tex, the later revision.
• texchanges-review.tex, select this as the Overleaf Main document.
• latexmkrc, runs latexdiff before pdfLaTeX compiles the generated review document.

Try it on Overleaf

1. Upload all four files to a blank Overleaf project.
2. Select texchanges-review.tex as the Main document.
3. Compile with pdfLaTeX.
4. Recompile after changing either revision to generate a fresh visual diff.

Edit the two filenames in latexmkrc to match a real project. Keep filenames free of shell metacharacters because they are part of a compile command.

The example covers a removed word, a replacement with shared context, a phrase insertion, an emphasized-word replacement, and a revised list. Keep changed math, complex floats, and custom verbatim-like environments outside an automatic diff example. Use explicit Texchanges markup or manual review for those cases.

To compile either revision without diffing, select it as the Main document. The conditional latexmkrc runs latexdiff only for texchanges-review.tex.

Visual walkthrough

Earlier revision

Later revision

Generated visual diff

This workflow follows Overleaf's documented method:

https://www.overleaf.com/learn/latex/Articles/HowtouselatexdiffonOverleaf