Can't export QTI without the python converter tool…

Error message

Can't export QTI without the python converter tool installed.

What it means

QtiWorker#perform requires the :qti_converter Canvas plugin to exist and be enabled; that plugin is only enabled when the python QTI converter tool is installed and configured. Without it, QTI export content migrations cannot run and the worker raises immediately after starting the job progress.

Solutions

Install the python QTI converter tool on the host running the migration job.
Enable the qti_converter plugin (Account > Plugins > QTI Converter) and verify plugin.settings[:enabled].
Verify the plugin configuration (paths/settings for the converter binary) and that the job process can execute it.
If the converter cannot be installed, use a different export format instead of QTI.

Example fix

// before (shell on app host)
# python converter not installed -> export fails
// after
sudo pip install the canvas qti converter tool   # or distro package
# then in UI: Admin > Plugins > QTI Converter > Enable

Defensive patterns

Strategy: validation

Validate before calling

plugin = Canvas::Plugin.find(:qti_converter)
return :disabled unless plugin && plugin.settings[:enabled]

Try / catch

begin
  worker.perform(migration_id, cm)
rescue RuntimeError => e
  raise unless e.message.include?("Can't export QTI without the python converter tool")
  cm.workflow_state = 'failed' # surface actionable error to the user
  cm.save!
end

Prevention

Install the python QTI converter as part of base infrastructure provisioning.
Assert plugin enabled-ness in smoke tests before offering QTI export in the UI.
Hide the QTI export option when the qti_converter plugin is disabled.

When it happens

Trigger: Running a content migration / course export with QTI format on a Canvas installation where the python qti_converter plugin is not enabled — python tool missing, plugin settings disabled, or a plain Canvas install without the converter dependency.

Common situations: Self-hosted Canvas missing the python QTI converter package; plugin disabled in /plugins/qti_converter; Docker/dev environment without the python dependency; export attempted before infrastructure provisioning.

Understand the failure class

Background: "not installed", "pip install", "required for": how missing-dependency errors surface across open-source libraries — this error's family across 34 libraries.

Related errors

AI-assisted analysis of instructure/canvas-lms@1c9f0bb801 (2026-09-15). Data as JSON: /api/errors/0603b7bf226b0c09. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at gems/plugins/qti_exporter/lib/canvas/migration/worker/qti_worker.rb:31

# WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR
# A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU Affero General Public License for more
# details.
#
# You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License along
# with this program. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.

module Canvas::Migration
  module Worker
    class QtiWorker < Base
      def perform
        cm = ContentMigration.where(id: migration_id).first
        begin
          cm.reset_job_progress
          cm.job_progress.start
          cm.update_conversion_progress(1)
          plugin = Canvas::Plugin.find(:qti_converter)
          unless plugin && plugin.settings[:enabled]
            raise "Can't export QTI without the python converter tool installed."
          end

          settings = cm.migration_settings.clone
          settings[:content_migration_id] = migration_id
          settings[:user_id] = cm.user_id
          settings[:content_migration] = cm

          if cm.attachment
            settings[:attachment_id] = cm.attachment.id
          elsif settings[:file_url]
            att = Canvas::Migration::Worker.download_attachment(cm, settings[:file_url])
            settings[:attachment_id] = att.id
          elsif !settings[:no_archive_file]
            raise Canvas::Migration::Error, I18n.t(:no_migration_file, "File required for content migration.")
          end

          converter = Qti::Converter.new(settings)
          assessments = converter.export

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