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When compiling the following example code:

\documentclass[a4paper]{article} 

\usepackage[T2A]{fontenc}
\usepackage[utf8]{inputenc}
\usepackage[serbianc]{babel}
\usepackage[backend=biber]{biblatex}
\addbibresource{lit.bib}

\begin{document}
TEXT
\end{document}

The following error is reported:! Package biblatex Error: Incompatible package 'ucs'.

The line:\usepackage[serbianc]{babel} seems to be the cause of the conflict as compiling without that specific line works perfectly.

I'm writing a paper in Serbian which will include a bibliography, can this issue be resolved while keeping both of the necessary packages included in the source.

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  • The example as posted compiles fine for me. What version of babel-serbianc do you use? Add \listfiles to the beginning of your document and compile it (without biblatex to avoid the error). I have serbianc.ldf 2019/01/12 3.0
    – moewe
    Feb 24, 2019 at 16:03
  • You are probably using an older version of babel-serbianc (2011/06/06 v2.2 or older), if possible update to the new version 2019/01/12 3.0, it doesn't load ucs any more.
    – moewe
    Feb 24, 2019 at 16:11
  • @moewe you're right I'm using version 2.2, thank you, I'll try to update it then
    – stayhere
    Feb 24, 2019 at 16:12

1 Answer 1

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2

With the current version of babel-serbianc (3.0 2019-01-12), the MWE compiles as desired. The package ucs is not loaded. As https://tug.org/pipermail/tex-live-commits/2019-January/008417.html shows older versions of babel-serbianc (at least 2011/06/06 v2.2) did indeed load ucs.

With a bit of trickery from Unload a LaTeX package I can get the example to compile even with the outdated version of babel-serbianc, but you risk things going wrong further down the road. So my express advice is to use the new version of babel-serbianc.

\listfiles
\documentclass[a4paper]{article} 

\usepackage{etoolbox}
\makeatletter
\newcommand{\dontusepackage}[2][]{%
  \csdef{ver@#2.sty}{9999/12/31}%
  \csdef{opt@#2.sty}{#1}}
\newcommand{\pretendpackagewasnotloaded}[1]{%
  \csundef{ver@#1.sty}%
  \csundef{opt@#1.sty}}
\makeatother

\usepackage[T2A]{fontenc}
\usepackage[utf8]{inputenc}

\dontusepackage{ucs}
\usepackage[serbianc]{babel}
\pretendpackagewasnotloaded{ucs}

\usepackage[backend=biber]{biblatex}
\addbibresource{biblatex-examples.bib}

\begin{document}
TEXT
\end{document}

Note that biblatex does not speak Serbian, so the bibliography and citations are going to be in English. See What is the most appropriate way to configure biblatex for use with an unsupported language?. If you are thinking about writing a Serbian localisation for biblatex, please consider swinging by https://github.com/plk/biblatex/issues and sharing what you come up with.

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