Python - ValueError: unknown locale: UTF-8

Question

I run the python script that contain Pandas (that one cause the problem) library I got this error:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "test.py", line 2, in <module>
    import pandas
ImportError: No module named pandas

But if I import from package path to make sure it detects Pandas library, I got this error message

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "test.py", line 3, in <module>
    import pandas
  File "/usr/local/lib/python2.7/site-packages/pandas/__init__.py", line 44, in <module>
    from pandas.core.api import *
  File "/usr/local/lib/python2.7/site-packages/pandas/core/api.py", line 9, in <module>
    from pandas.core.groupby import Grouper
  File "/usr/local/lib/python2.7/site-packages/pandas/core/groupby.py", line 16, in <module>
    from pandas.core.frame import DataFrame
  File "/usr/local/lib/python2.7/site-packages/pandas/core/frame.py", line 41, in <module>
    from pandas.core.series import Series
  File "/usr/local/lib/python2.7/site-packages/pandas/core/series.py", line 2864, in <module>
    import pandas.tools.plotting as _gfx
  File "/usr/local/lib/python2.7/site-packages/pandas/tools/plotting.py", line 28, in <module>
    import pandas.tseries.converter as conv
  File "/usr/local/lib/python2.7/site-packages/pandas/tseries/converter.py", line 7, in <module>
    import matplotlib.units as units
  File "/usr/local/lib/python2.7/site-packages/matplotlib/__init__.py", line 1131, in <module>
    rcParams = rc_params()
  File "/usr/local/lib/python2.7/site-packages/matplotlib/__init__.py", line 975, in rc_params
    return rc_params_from_file(fname, fail_on_error)
  File "/usr/local/lib/python2.7/site-packages/matplotlib/__init__.py", line 1100, in rc_params_from_file
    config_from_file = _rc_params_in_file(fname, fail_on_error)
  File "/usr/local/lib/python2.7/site-packages/matplotlib/__init__.py", line 1018, in _rc_params_in_file
    with _open_file_or_url(fname) as fd:
  File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/contextlib.py", line 17, in __enter__
    return self.gen.next()
  File "/usr/local/lib/python2.7/site-packages/matplotlib/__init__.py", line 1000, in _open_file_or_url
    encoding = locale.getdefaultlocale()[1]
  File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/locale.py", line 543, in getdefaultlocale
    return _parse_localename(localename)
  File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/locale.py", line 475, in _parse_localename
    raise ValueError, 'unknown locale: %s' % localename
ValueError: unknown locale: UTF-8

I already update my .bash_profile and .bashrc with these lines but still not working even I already restart the terminal and my machine.

export LANG="it_IT.UTF-8"  
export LC_COLLATE="it_IT.UTF-8"  
export LC_CTYPE="it_IT.UTF-8"  
export LC_MESSAGES="it_IT.UTF-8"  
export LC_MONETARY="it_IT.UTF-8"  
export LC_NUMERIC="it_IT.UTF-8"  
export LC_TIME="it_IT.UTF-8"  
export LC_ALL="it_IT.UTF-8"

I'm also enabled Set locale environment variables on startup in the terminal preferences.

I'm afraid the problem caused because of El Capitan.

This has nothing to do with your terminal encoding, which only affects the display of text stream in the terminal. — 4ae1e1, Nov 15 '15 at 05:33
I don't think this is a duplicate question because set LC_ALL doesn't work for me. The solution works for me is to uncheck the Set locale env variables on startup at terminal's preferences. — hsc, May 05 '16 at 15:36

score 5 · Answer 1 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:01

5

Edit: Pandas, and its dependencies, had localization bugs that were discovered in non-C locales and fixed in recent versions.

When I downloaded the latest version of Pandas onto an OS X Yosemite computer via sudo pip install pandas in a terminal set to it_IT.UTF-8, and then imported it in a new Python session, I wasn't able to reproduce this issue.

My best guess now - and I'd emphasize this is only a guess - is that the version of Pandas in that folder predates those fixes and is broken in it_IT.UTF-8. (I do think this is, on balance, more likely than the issue being specific to El Capitan.)

~~Your LC_ALL= is unset. That seems unusual; based on other answers here I think you should try setting it to LC_ALL="it_IT.UTF-8" and remove the other LC_ settings.~~

~~Then save your .bash_profile, open a new terminal tab, and try again.~~

edited May 23 '17 at 12:01

Community

1
1

answered Nov 15 '15 at 05:34

Will Angley

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You actually contradict yourself... You probably meant `LC_ALL="it_IT.UTF-8"` in the code block. – 4ae1e1 Nov 15 '15 at 05:35
Oops! Fixed now, thank you! – Will Angley Nov 15 '15 at 05:36
1

`LC_ALL` is _not_ normally set on OS X, but `LANG` is. You'd only need to set `LC_ALL` to override if someone else - unusually - had set `LC_ALL` too. Your `LC_ALL=...` command effectively overrides your `LANG=...` command - there is never a need for _both_. – mklement0 Nov 15 '15 at 05:42
I already update .bash_profile and restart my terminal. But it still happen. Same error message. – Nurdin Nov 15 '15 at 05:44
1

To back up @mklement0's claim: `man locale`. – 4ae1e1 Nov 15 '15 at 05:46
1

Browsed through `man locale`, and I understand I'm wrong here. This wouldn't change anything over OP's original locale settings. – Will Angley Nov 15 '15 at 05:56

Python - ValueError: unknown locale: UTF-8

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