software-center does not start when attemptig aptcache.open()

[Daniel Jose]

I cannot open the software center. I get the following errors when running it in the console:

$ software-center
2012-05-08 15:36:31,623 - softwarecenter.ui.gtk3.app - INFO - setting up proxy 'None'
2012-05-08 15:36:31,626 - softwarecenter.db.database - INFO - open() database: path=None use_axi=True use_agent=True
2012-05-08 15:36:32,157 - softwarecenter.db.pkginfo_impl.aptcache - INFO - aptcache.open()
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/bin/software-center", line 176, in <module>
    app.run(args)
  File "/usr/share/software-center/softwarecenter/ui/gtk3/app.py", line 1343, in run
    self.show_available_packages(args)
  File "/usr/share/software-center/softwarecenter/ui/gtk3/app.py", line 1273, in show_available_packages
    self.view_manager.set_active_view(ViewPages.AVAILABLE)
  File "/usr/share/software-center/softwarecenter/ui/gtk3/session/viewmanager.py", line 149, in set_active_view
    view_widget.init_view()
  File "/usr/share/software-center/softwarecenter/ui/gtk3/panes/availablepane.py", line 133, in init_view
    SoftwarePane.init_view(self)
  File "/usr/share/software-center/softwarecenter/ui/gtk3/panes/softwarepane.py", line 214, in init_view
    self.icons, self.show_ratings)
  File "/usr/share/software-center/softwarecenter/ui/gtk3/views/appview.py", line 69, in __init__
    self.helper = AppPropertiesHelper(db, cache, icons)
  File "/usr/share/software-center/softwarecenter/ui/gtk3/models/appstore2.py", line 107, in __init__
    softwarecenter.paths.APP_INSTALL_PATH)
  File "/usr/share/software-center/softwarecenter/db/categories.py", line 255, in parse_applications_menu
    category = self._parse_menu_tag(child)
  File "/usr/share/software-center/softwarecenter/db/categories.py", line 444, in _parse_menu_tag
    query = self._parse_include_tag(element)
  File "/usr/share/software-center/softwarecenter/db/categories.py", line 402, in _parse_include_tag
    xapian.Query.OP_AND)
  File "/usr/share/software-center/softwarecenter/db/categories.py", line 341, in _parse_and_or_not_tag
    operator_elem, xapian.Query(), xapian.Query.OP_OR)
  File "/usr/share/software-center/softwarecenter/db/categories.py", line 385, in _parse_and_or_not_tag
    q = self.db.xapian_parser.parse_query(s,
  File "/usr/share/software-center/softwarecenter/db/database.py", line 170, in xapian_parser
    xapian_parser = self._get_new_xapian_parser()
  File "/usr/share/software-center/softwarecenter/db/database.py", line 196, in _get_new_xapian_parser
    xapian_parser.set_database(self.xapiandb)
  File "/usr/share/software-center/softwarecenter/db/database.py", line 162, in xapiandb
    self._db_per_thread[thread_name] = self._get_new_xapiandb()
  File "/usr/share/software-center/softwarecenter/db/database.py", line 175, in _get_new_xapiandb
    xapiandb = xapian.Database(self._db_pathname)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/xapian/__init__.py", line 3666, in __init__
    _xapian.Database_swiginit(self,_xapian.new_Database(*args))

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
Package: software-center 5.2.1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-24.37-generic 3.2.14
Uname: Linux 3.2.0-24-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
ApportVersion: 2.0.1-0ubuntu7
Architecture: amd64
Date: Tue May 8 15:37:51 2012
PackageArchitecture: all
SourcePackage: software-center
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.