# Superscript and subscript both in textmode with compressed indices

How can I afford both superscript and subscript in textmode, but with compressed incides? I have found the following approach to frist of all get both superscript and subscript in textmode: Superscript and subscript together in text mode

\documentclass{article}

\makeatletter
\DeclareRobustCommand{\textsupsub}[2]{{%
\m@th\ensuremath{%
^{\mbox{\fontsize\sf@size\z@#1}}%
_{\mbox{\fontsize\sf@size\z@#2}}%
}%
}}
\makeatother

\begin{document}

X\textsupsub{ab}{c}X\textsupsub{c}{ab}X

\end{document}


This works fine, but the indices are oddly big:

Whereas when I just use subscript for instance, the indices are kind of compressed to fit in the text around:

Does anyone know what to do or add to obtain a similar result regarding the incides to plain subscript oder superscript?

I have now added a MWE:

%Definition des Dokumentes
\documentclass[12pt,a4paper,twoside,openright]{report}

%Schriftart Arial - ACHTUNG: Compile with XeLaTeX (not PDFLaTeX)!
\usepackage{fontspec}
\defaultfontfeatures{Scale = MatchLowercase}
\setmainfont{Arial}[Scale = 1.0]

%Deutsche Umlaute, Englisch
\usepackage[main = ngerman, english]{babel}

%Mathematische Symbole und Zeichen
\usepackage{amsmath}
\usepackage{amssymb}
\usepackage{mathtools}

% = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
% Sonstige Makros
% = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
\makeatletter
\DeclareRobustCommand{\textsupsub}[2]{{%
\m@th\ensuremath{%
^{\mbox{\fontsize\sf@size\z@#1}}%
_{\mbox{\fontsize\sf@size\z@#2}}%
}%
}}
\makeatother

% = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
%
%
% Anfang von Dokumententext
%
%
% = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
\begin{document}

R\textsubscript{GT, b}

R\textsuperscript{*}

R\textsupsub{*}{GT, b}

\end{document}


It gives the following output:

I would like to have a mixture of the first two, but it generates too big indices.

• I can't reproduce the output in your first picture. Are you sure this needs \textsupsub? This looks like math to me. – egreg Feb 24 at 22:12
• please edit your question so the image you show is generated by the posted code. – David Carlisle Feb 24 at 22:29
• @egreg @David Carlisle I have added a MWE, hope it clarifies things. I use \textsupsub because I have to use Arial in my text and I didn't find a way to do so in equations hence math too. At least in the text I intend to use Arial for variables used in following equations. – TeXlearner Mar 6 at 16:00