Open Office - can't enter text into Writer, can't see help

[Chris G]

On Sun, Jan 18, 2009 at 08:44:44AM -0700, Karl F. Larsen wrote:
> Chris G wrote:
> > I'm trying to use OpenOffice 2.4 on xubuntu 8.10 and I'm failing
> > miserably. 
> >
> > It all starts up OK and I get the main "OpenOffice.org" window and I
> > can click on New under the File menu - so far so good.  I'm then
> > presented with a "Templates and Documents - New Document" window which
> > again seems reasonable.  However at this point I'm stuck, I can't
> > enter text into what *appears* to be the text entry area to the right
> > of the icons in the "Templates and Documents - New Document" window.
> >   
> What I use is just a plain write window. I ask for this and it comes up 
> with no strange things. And it works.
> 
So how do I get this "plain write window", that's my problem!

> 
> > In addition if I click on Help I get everything to do with Help in a
> > new window *except* the actual help.  I.e. I get the Contents, Index,
> > Find and Bookmarks tabs and I can move around in the Help and view all
> > the sections but nothing actually appears in the pane to the right
> > where, presumably, the actual help is supposed to appear.
> >
> >   
> You need to learn the Help. Turn it on and it shows everything. But in 
> the little panel put HTML and hit enter. That will be the section of 
> Help on your interests.
> 
Not for me, no help *ever* appears.  If I do as you say above I get a
list of the places where "HTML" appears but I don't get any actual
help contents.

> 
> > Am I doing something really stupid or is my OpenOffice installation
> > broken in some way?
> >
> >   
> OO is fine. You need to relax and learn to use it.
> 
I'm pretty certain I have something broken.

-- 
Chris Green