Fresh install of lubuntu synaptic is missing the search box in the tool bar

A complete new install of lubuntu 11.10 [...17.10] has synaptic 0.75.2ubuntu7 [...0.84.2]. Previously when using synaptic on another system there was a search box in the tool bar where a search string could be entered which would reduce the displayed packages as the string was being entered. The box is not being displayed nor do I find any setting to enable/disable it.

Solution 1:

sudo apt-get install apt-xapian-index
sudo update-apt-xapian-index -vf

From: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1178974

Solution 2:

If the other answers don't help then try:

sudo apt-get install --reinstall synaptic
sudo dpkg-reconfigure synaptic

It worked for me.