1. Before You Begin
If you've never heard of Python packages before, don’t worry—you don’t need to be a coder to follow along. Let’s break it down.
Octoparse AI comes with a built-in Python environment (kind of like your phone’s operating system). And just like your phone needs apps to do different things—like texting, taking photos, or checking the weather—Octoparse AI sometimes needs to install Python packages to run certain features or scripts.
In this tutorial, we’ll use the term Python package (also known as a library)—they mean the same thing here.
When Do You Need to Install Python Packages?
You might run into situations like these:
Running an app from the App Store: Some apps require specific Python packages to work. For example, you might see a note like this:
⚠️ Please install the lxml library before running this app.
(Don’t worry—we’ll show you how to install it!)
Using your own script in a workflow: If you’ve added a Python script to your workflow and it’s asking for a specific package (e.g.,
pandas), you'll need to install it to make the script run.
These Python packages are like special tools Octoparse AI needs to complete certain tasks, and we’re going to walk you through how to install them.
2. How to Install a Python Package in Octoparse AI
a. Option 1: Install in Advance (Recommended)
Before you run an app or workflow that requires a Python package, you can install it ahead of time. Here’s how:
Open Octoparse AI
Start by opening your Octoparse AI client.
Go to Python Package Management
Click on your profile icon in the top-right corner and select Tools > Python Package Management.
Alternatively, if you’re in the workflow editor, click the Tools icon in the top-right to access the same panel.
Install a Python Package
In the Install new library tab, type the name of the package you need, such as
lxml, and click Install.📌Tip: If you’re using a VPN, try turning it off. Sometimes VPNs can cause network issues that might interfere with installation.
📌Note: Most of the time, you don’t need to specify a version or select a mirror source. Just install the latest version by default.
Watch the Installation Progress
You’ll see the progress of the installation in the Output window.
✅Once it's finished, you’ll see a “Installation succeeded!” message at the top when it's done, and “installation completed” at the bottom of the output window.
Install More Packages
If you need to install additional packages, just click Install new library again and repeat the steps for each one.
Manage Installed Packages
After installation, switch to the Installed libraries tab to see the packages you’ve installed.
If you need to update a package, select it and click Upgrade.
If you need to remove a package, select it and click Delete. You can then reinstall it if needed.
b. Option 2: Install During App Execution
If you’re running an app and get an error like this:
❌ Python package not found
ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'lxml'
You can install the missing package right away. When you see the error pop-up, just click Install now. The installation process is the same as Method 1, and once it’s complete, you can continue running the app.
3. Troubleshooting
💡Even with everything set up, you might still run into a few bumps. Don’t worry—we’ve got you covered!
a. Seeing the same “package not found” error even after installing a package?
This usually means your Python script needs more than one package. The script will stop as soon as it runs into the first missing one, so you might need to run the app a few times to catch and install each package. Once they're all in place, everything should run smoothly.
b. Already see the package listed under Installed Libraries, but still getting errors?
In most cases, this happens when the installed version doesn’t match what the app or script expects. A quick fix is to uninstall the current version and reinstall it to make sure you're using the latest one.
Go to Installed libraries, select the package, click Delete, then reinstall it as shown earlier.
c. Do I need to install packages if I’m using Octoparse AI Bot to run the app?
Yes—just like the desktop client, Octoparse AI Bot also needs the required Python packages. You can install them from the same Python Package Management panel. We recommend checking this before you run the app to avoid mid-run interruptions.
