Firstly, u use alien to convert to .deb packages, then you have to use 'dpkg -i --force-overwrite *.deb' to install the packages,
Then you need to edit /opt/openoffice1.9.xx/share/config/javavendors.xml - by removing any references to Blackdown Or IBM vendors, after which you will have to run the following postinst commands in /opt/openoffice1.9.xx/program:
* run /opt/openoffice1.9.xx/pkgchk --shared
* then configimport --spool
* then update-mime-data "OpenOffice1.9"
You shouldnt get any error messages when executing these commands (only success messages).
This should leave u with a functional installation, u can execute by running the desired program (scalc etc) from the program directory.
I found these resources at
http://installation.openoffice.org/s...=dev&msgNo=609 - so don't give me any credit for this solution. However it did work for me!