Users who aren't comfortable running python scripts can now download the open-source PC App
I managed to run it on my Mac natively. Here is the guide:
Running Archive Studio on Mac: Quick Guide for Scholars
Despite the manual stating "Windows only," Archive Studio can run on Mac with some setup and minor code fixes.
Prerequisites
macOS 10.14+
API keys from OpenAI, Anthropic, and/or Google AI
Setup Steps
1. Install Anaconda
Download and install Anaconda from anaconda.com
2. Create Environment and Install Dependencies
bashconda create -n archive-studio python=3.10 -y
conda activate archive-studio
conda install -c conda-forge pandas pillow opencv -y
pip install PyMuPDF tkinterdnd2 openai anthropic google-generativeai
3. Download Source Code
Download from GitHub: https://github.com/mhumphries2323/Archive_Studio
Extract to desired location (e.g., ~/ArchiveStudio)
4. Fix Google AI Import Issues
The source code has incorrect Google AI imports that must be fixed:
Edit util/APIHandler.py:
Change from google import genai as genai_client → import google.generativeai as genai_client
Change from google.genai import types → from google.generativeai import types
Change client = genai_client.Client(api_key=self.google_api_key) → genai_client.configure(api_key=self.google_api_key)
5. Launch
bashconda activate archive-studio
cd ~/ArchiveStudio
python ArchiveStudio.py
Critical Notes
Do not use automated text replacement tools (like sed) - they corrupt the file structure
Make import fixes manually in a text editor
Keep the original download as backup
The application works identically to Windows version once these fixes are applied
API costs and functionality remain the same
Troubleshooting
If you get import errors, install missing packages with pip
If the GUI looks strange, try pythonw ArchiveStudio.py instead of python
Check util/error_logs.txt for specific error messages
I managed to run it on my Mac natively. Here is the guide:
Running Archive Studio on Mac: Quick Guide for Scholars
Despite the manual stating "Windows only," Archive Studio can run on Mac with some setup and minor code fixes.
Prerequisites
macOS 10.14+
API keys from OpenAI, Anthropic, and/or Google AI
Setup Steps
1. Install Anaconda
Download and install Anaconda from anaconda.com
2. Create Environment and Install Dependencies
bashconda create -n archive-studio python=3.10 -y
conda activate archive-studio
conda install -c conda-forge pandas pillow opencv -y
pip install PyMuPDF tkinterdnd2 openai anthropic google-generativeai
3. Download Source Code
Download from GitHub: https://github.com/mhumphries2323/Archive_Studio
Extract to desired location (e.g., ~/ArchiveStudio)
4. Fix Google AI Import Issues
The source code has incorrect Google AI imports that must be fixed:
Edit util/APIHandler.py:
Change from google import genai as genai_client → import google.generativeai as genai_client
Change from google.genai import types → from google.generativeai import types
Change client = genai_client.Client(api_key=self.google_api_key) → genai_client.configure(api_key=self.google_api_key)
5. Launch
bashconda activate archive-studio
cd ~/ArchiveStudio
python ArchiveStudio.py
Critical Notes
Do not use automated text replacement tools (like sed) - they corrupt the file structure
Make import fixes manually in a text editor
Keep the original download as backup
The application works identically to Windows version once these fixes are applied
API costs and functionality remain the same
Troubleshooting
If you get import errors, install missing packages with pip
If the GUI looks strange, try pythonw ArchiveStudio.py instead of python
Check util/error_logs.txt for specific error messages