using dpkg to install packages for wrong architecture
 

This is ok if u have an amd64 processor because AMD has made it compatible with older 32bit software. But how do I do it?

debian:/home/sc# dpkg -i openoffice.org-bin_1.1.4-7.0.1_i3864.deb --force architecture
dpkg: error processing openoffice.org-bin_1.1.4-7.0.1_i3864.deb (--install):
package architecture (i386) does not match system (amd64)
dpkg: error processing --force (--install):
cannot access archive: No such file or directory
dpkg: error processing architecture (--install):
cannot access archive: No such file or directory
Errors were encountered while processing:
openoffice.org-bin_1.1.4-7.0.1_i3864.deb
--force
architecture

I tried it with a hythen between the force and architecture as well doesn't work.

Have you checked the checksums and made sure you got a complete correct download?
'dpkg --force-architecture -i <package>' should work.

Why not compile from source?

-twantrd

yeah it worked fine thanks