Recently, I’ve had to fix defective JRE (java Runtime Environments) for 2 different machines running OpenOffice. I had trouble trying to fix this at first, but it’s actually relatively simple to solve. Here’s how to do it.

Pre-notes: OpenOffice requires the Java Runtime Environment to fully work. A defective JRE could result from a bad installation, or updating while Java is actually in use (this happened to me the first time, never install Java while OpenOffice is running). This will work for NeoOffice and LibreOffice as well. The first 2 steps are pretty commonplace, so if you’ve already attempted to reinstall Java and/or OpenOffice, skip down to step 3 for other methods.

Enough talk, more solution!

1: Attempt to reinstall Java:
Apple normally provides the updates, though with the last Java update for 10.6, they have shifted Java support to Oracle (the company that owns Java). You can redownload a version of Java from the Apple website at this time. Here is the link for Snow Leopard (10.6):
http://support.apple.com/kb/dl972

2: Reinstall OpenOffice: If Java still is malfunctioning with OpenOffice, reinstall the program itself. A connection between the 2 programs may have gone bad somehow. Here’s the link from CNET.com:
http://download.cnet.com/OpenOffice-org/3000-18483_4-10209910.html?tag=mncol;1

3. Repair Permissions: For me, neither of those steps worked, but they’re good starting places. What did work was a permissions repair. To perform one, go to your “Applications” folder, open up the folder inside labeled “Utilities”, and then open the program labeled Disk Utility.
After doing that, select your internal hard drive (likely labeled with the amount of space on your drive, with the brand name), and open the tab that says “First Aid”. At the bottom of the window, hit the button that says “Verify Disk Permissions”, and let it run. Likely there will be one or two error with Java in the error name. Once it is finished verifying, hit “Fix Disk Permissions” and let it run.
Once it is done, you should be able to open OpenOffice and get back to work.

4: If all else fails: Before I figured this out, I did realize that NeoOffice, or the new LibreOffice would work in the meantime. They both run off the same code as OpenOffice, so most of the files you made in one should come cleanly into the other.

If you want a video of this tutorial, let me know. And if you liked this, tend me an email at easyosx@live.com, comment, subscribe, or look me up on Youtube. Thanks, and good luck typing!