[XeTeX] Polyglossia installation

[Gareth Hughes]

Ulrike Fischer wrote:
> Am Sat, 12 Dec 2009 19:12:24 -0500 schrieb Maxim Cournoyer:
>> My tex-live installation is version 2007, from Ubuntu 9.10 repositories.
>>
>> Should I try to upgrade? What is the best route if I choose so? 
> 
> \newXeTeXintercharclass is a rather new command which is defined in
> xelatex.ini and xetex.ini (and so is part of the xelatex and the
> xetex format). The newest xe(la)tex.ini's haven't yet found the way
> in all tex-systems (miktex is missing them too). You can probably
> find them in one of the tex live 2009 packages or try these one:
> http://scripts.sil.org/svn-public/xetex/TRUNK/texmf/tex/xelatex/config/xelatex.ini
> http://scripts.sil.org/svn-public/xetex/TRUNK/texmf/tex/xetex/config/xetex.ini
> 
> Move them in a local root where they are found before the normal
> one, call texhash and regenerate the xelatex/xetex format.

The problem of XeTeX versions keeps coming up, especially as
repositories (such as Ubuntu and MikTeX's) is not keeping up to date. I
wonder whether it would be useful for someone to write a step-by-step
guide for updating the installation, or installing a parallel local
version. Then, when these questions arise, we could point questioners to
the guide. I don't think my technical knowledge is up to this thing, but
wonder if anyone would like to try this.

Gareth.