Better error in the Auto API when a dep is missing (#17289)

src/transformers/models/auto/feature_extraction_auto.py

@@ -84,6 +84,12 @@ def feature_extractor_class_from_name(class_name: str):
         if getattr(extractor, "__name__", None) == class_name:
             return extractor
 
+    # We did not fine the class, but maybe it's because a dep is missing. In that case, the class will be in the main
+    # init and we return the proper dummy to get an appropriate error message.
+    main_module = importlib.import_module("transformers")
+    if hasattr(main_module, class_name):
+        return getattr(main_module, class_name)
+
     return None
 
 

src/transformers/models/auto/processing_auto.py

@@ -74,6 +74,12 @@ def processor_class_from_name(class_name: str):
         if getattr(processor, "__name__", None) == class_name:
             return processor
 
+    # We did not fine the class, but maybe it's because a dep is missing. In that case, the class will be in the main
+    # init and we return the proper dummy to get an appropriate error message.
+    main_module = importlib.import_module("transformers")
+    if hasattr(main_module, class_name):
+        return getattr(main_module, class_name)
+
     return None
 
 

src/transformers/models/auto/tokenization_auto.py

@@ -287,6 +287,12 @@ def tokenizer_class_from_name(class_name: str):
             if getattr(tokenizer, "__name__", None) == class_name:
                 return tokenizer
 
+    # We did not fine the class, but maybe it's because a dep is missing. In that case, the class will be in the main
+    # init and we return the proper dummy to get an appropriate error message.
+    main_module = importlib.import_module("transformers")
+    if hasattr(main_module, class_name):
+        return getattr(main_module, class_name)
+
     return None