After fiddling around with it, I finally got Star Office 5.2 to work on this Red Hat Linux 7.2 system. So far I've had to make a separate installation for each account. I've worked it so that either installation can be invoked by a single command, i.e. in root I type "soffice_root" to start Star Office, while in the user accounts I type "soffice_[user]". Is there any way to create one command that can select the correct installation? In other words, can I create a script so that no matter which account I'm using, I can just type the command "soffice" and script would choose the correct installation?

Hello,

Your question seems hard to understand.

Using Mandrake 8.1 Gaming edition (that has Star Office 5.2
included) on a desktop used by several members of the family.

a) During the install of LM, I selected the Star Office package.

b) Logged in as root, I invoked the
StarOffice item on the Kde Menu, and chose a "server"
(total) installation from the Install Screen.
(btw I chose to install in the /opt/ directory)
(the same Install Screen will come up after an rpm
install if you chose to download the rpm off Mandrake Club)

c)Subsequently, each and every user logged in
would just make a "user" (light) install invoking the
same menu Item in the Menu.

Now SO runs smoothly in just the same way (Kde Menu Item)

I know this is not a direct answer, it may however help
some LM users who wonder what the step by step installation
of SO should be. (btw I chose to install in the /opt/ directory)

Run the origional install binary with the network install switch. I think its ./soffice.bin -net but the manual will have full details.

Then each user can run the installed setup program and copy about 2MB of files to their home directory, then they can use the shared binaries.