Python: words and barcode-for-python-via-net aspose.pyreflection error

Aspose.Total Product Family
1

I’m attempting to use aspose-barcode-for-python-via-net==25.8 and aspose-words==25.10.0 (both are the latest versions) in a project.

I’m running on MacOS with python version 3.13 in my venv.

When I try to execute my script I get:

ImportError: Unable to import module dependencies. Cannot import the aspose.pyreflection module. The aspose.pyreflection module found has a version (‘25.7.0.0’) that is lower than the referenced version of that module (‘25.8.0.0’).

The above exception was the direct cause of the following exception:

Traceback (most recent call last):

  • File “/Users/xxxxx/Library/xxxxx/main.py”, line 29, in *
  • import aspose.words as aw*
    ImportError: One or more errors occurred while loading the module ‘aspose.words’ (-1009)

Seems like barcode-for-python-via-net is loading an old version of pyreflection, can this be fixed?

2

@AlainGyger

What’s happening?

Both Aspose.Barcode‑for‑Python‑via‑.NET and Aspose.Words rely on the helper package aspose‑pyreflection.
When the two products are installed together the following versions are pulled in:

Package Version you installed aspose‑pyreflection version it expects
Aspose.Barcode‑for‑Python‑via‑.NET 25.8 25.8.0.0
Aspose.Words 25.10.0 25.10.0.0

During import the Barcode package loads the aspose‑pyreflection assembly it finds (25.8.0.0).
Later Aspose.Words tries to load the same assembly, expects version 25.10.0.0, sees the older 25.8.0.0 and raises the ImportError you are seeing.

How to resolve the conflict

1. Align both products to the same version (recommended)

  1. Remove the current packages (including the helper library)

    pip uninstall -y aspose-words aspose-barcode-for-python-via-net aspose-pyreflection

  2. Install a matching set

    If a newer Barcode release (≥ 25.10) is available

    pip install aspose-barcode-for-python-via-net==25.10.0 aspose-words==25.10.0

    If Barcode is still at 25.8 (the situation today)

    pip install aspose-barcode-for-python-via-net==25.8.0 aspose-words==25.8.0

    The installer will automatically pull the corresponding aspose‑pyreflection (25.8.0.0 or 25.10.0.0) for both libraries.

2. Force a single aspose-pyreflection version (only if you must keep the mismatched versions)

pip install --upgrade aspose-pyreflection==25.10.0.0
pip install --no-deps --force-reinstall aspose-barcode-for-python-via-net==25.8.0

Caution: This works only when the older Barcode binaries are compatible with the newer reflection DLL. In many cases they are not, so the safest approach is the version‑alignment method above.

3. Use a supported Python runtime

Aspose‑Python‑via‑.NET is built on the .NET runtime and has been tested up to Python 3.11 (and 3.12 on some platforms). Python 3.13 is still very new and can cause native‑DLL loading issues. If possible, create a fresh virtual environment with Python 3.11 or 3.12 and repeat the steps above:

# Example with pyenv (any virtual‑env tool works)
pyenv install 3.11.9
pyenv virtualenv 3.11.9 aspnet-env
pyenv activate aspnet-env

pip install aspose-words==25.10.0 aspose-barcode-for-python-via-net==25.8.0   # or the matching pair you chose

Quick verification script

Run this after reinstalling to confirm that both modules load without error:

try:
    import aspose.words as aw
    import aspose.barcode as ab
    print("Aspose.Words version :", aw.__version__)
    print("Aspose.Barcode version :", ab.__version__)
    print("Import succeeded – version alignment is OK.")
except Exception as e:
    print("Import failed:", e)

If the script prints the versions and “Import succeeded”, the conflict is resolved.

Summary of steps

  1. Uninstall the current Aspose packages and the helper library.
  2. Choose a matching version pair (both 25.8 or both 25.10).
  3. Re‑install that pair (the correct aspose-pyreflection will be pulled automatically).
  4. (Optional) Use Python 3.11/3.12 to avoid any unknown issues with newer interpreters.
  5. Validate with the short script above.

If you still encounter problems, please share the exact pip list output and the full traceback so we can investigate further.

3

Hi,

Thanks for the quick response, I’ll give your suggestions a try.

I do have a big problem with suggestion #3 “Use a supported Python runtime”. Python 3.11 came out in 2022 (3 years ago) and 3.13 came out in 2024 (a year ago). How is Python 3.13 “still very new”? The last 4 major versions of Ubuntu don’t even want to install Python 3.11 anymore.

Alain

4

@AlainGyger,

Thanks for sharing the details.

We apologize for the exception you are experiencing while using both Aspose.Words for Python via .NET and Aspose.BarCode for Python via .NET in your environment. We require thorough evaluation of the issue. We have opened the following new ticket(s) in our internal issue tracking system and will deliver their fixes according to the terms mentioned in Free Support Policies.

Issue ID(s): BARCODEPYTHONNET-91

You can obtain Paid Support Services if you need support on a priority basis, along with the direct access to our Paid Support management team.

5

I’m going to step back and see if there’s a different way to solve my problem. I’m currently using Words to convert DOCX to PDF and it’s working without issue.

I’ve recently started using QR codes in my DOCX files and am now getting “Error! Bar code generator is not set” in my PDFs where the QR code is supposed to be.

The solution that was suggested was to use barcode-for-python-via-net.

Was that suggestion wrong? Am I able to work with QR codes using Words alone? Is there a different way to do this?

Thank you,
Alain

6

@AlainGyger,

Yes, you need to use Aspose.BarCode for Python via .NET library (which is a set of barcode generation and reading APIs to be integrated in Python applications) to generate QR codes.

Aspose.Words for Python via .NET is primarily a Word processing API (read, write, render, etc.) and may not do QR code manipulation. However, I will move your thread to the Aspose.Total category, where one of our colleagues from the Aspose.Words team will check your original issue and may provide appropriate details and guidance. @alexey.noskov FYI.

7

I ran that command, after uninstalling and purging the cache.

I’m now getting a different error:
AttributeError: module ‘aspose.pydrawing’ has no attribute ‘_C_APITV1_Color’

The above exception was the direct cause of the following exception:

ImportError: can’t import capsule ‘aspose.pydrawing._C_APITV1_Color’

The above exception was the direct cause of the following exception:

Traceback (most recent call last):
File “/Users/Library/PycharmProjects/Program/main.py”, line 850, in
import aspose.words as aw
ImportError: One or more errors occurred while loading the module ‘aspose.words’ (-1009)

Alain