I have tried without success to automate an older version (StarOffice 5.1 or 5.2, I think it was). In another thread, IIRC, Tamar said more or less that OO can be automated, but it is not as convenient as MS-Office when it comes to saving macros.

Given the price difference, I think it is worth a try.

Some other limitations I found in StarOffice: While, as far as I could see, StarOffice Calc had all the built-in formulae from Excel - but it lacked the extensions - formulae that had to be installed separately. For example, for complex numbers.

Also, in the Word equivalent, the outline mode didn't work well.

Note that all this is from an older version; also, I am talking about advanced features that most users wouldn't use. I would worry mainly about the Automation aspect.

>About a year ago I gave my ten year old niece an old PC. She said that she needed Word and Excel and my reply was do you have $500 to buy it. She looked at me funny and said you have to buy it? Instead I downloaded the OpenOffice product and now she has an equivalent version of Word, Excel, PowerPoint. The thing works like a charm - no problems at all.
>
>I just came across this article: http://www.compliancepipeline.com/163103761 and am curious if the OpenOffice products and be opened via COM controls? If so, I too may be a convert to OpenOffice. If you think about it, what compelling reason is there for the average user to buy a new version of MS Word? What is new and a have to have enhancement since say Word 97? I am primarily interested in controlling the Excel equivalent product in OpenOffice. Anyone tried doing this?