qole:

Well, I tried but it seams that lenny-backports downgrades to 2.4.
I even started from scratch and reinstalled easy debian. At that point
I have openoffice 3.0. (with equation editor disabled)
Next step I try

apt-get -t lenny-backports install openoffice.org-math

Still doesn't work. Has the same previous problem with the openoffice.org-core incompatibility so it was a no go.

I then try the aptitude version and it installs but with the down grade to 2.4.

When you tried this did you actually get the equation editor to work with version 3.0? That is, in openoffice writer, go to

insert->object->formula

Then a box will appear on the bottom of the screen to type in
formulas.


So if 2.4 is the best I can do for now on Debian, I will give
Ubuntu a try later today.