if you didn't install OO Version 3.x via synaptic or adept then
there is no way to update via the update application.

Did you install OO V 3.x via sudo with a .deb package?

How did you install openoffice 3? If you just downloaded from site and
installed then you may have some issues. I think you would have to run
the programme as root then all the buttons should show up.

Alternatively, add the openoffice PPA to your repos and it should be
taken care of automatically after that, that is what I did. In that
case I would uninstall the OpenOffice 3 package, reinstall the
OpenOffice 2 that is in the repos. Then add

deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/openoffice-pkgs/ubuntu intrepid main

to your third party repos. After reloading you will be told there are
updates for your openoffice package and then that should be most of
your worries taken care of!

Just to add to my previous message, by adding that PPA to your repos
it will update your OpenOffice 2 package to OpenOffice 3, just in case
I did not make it clear!

I already did the upgrade from 2 to 3 route. The link:
http://ppa.launchpad.net/openoffice-pkgs/ubuntu
is still in my Third-party software source.

The update button which is supposed to be in the tools section is not
there - not grayed out, just not there at all.

I've installed OO 3 several times including the OO 2 to OO 3 update.
That's the way I did it the last time. The "About" screen says OO is
3.0.0, OOO300m9 (Build:9358) As far as I know this is what I
downloaded as opposed to an online update, and it should indicate I'm
actually running a ver 3. In other words the upgrade must have
worked. I also put all the previous OO files and folders in the trash
prior to downloading a new version. Have done it this way more than once.

I followed the directions located here:
....softpedia.com/.../How-To-Install-OpenOffice-org-in-Ubuntu-8-10-9644\
9.shtml
the last time I loaded OO 3. In fact, the screenshot showing the
version is exactly the same version as my system shows. It just never
has updated, and the OpenOffice updates that come out every day or so
are grayed out and updated.

So, the questions remain. Is the system showing this info based on
holdover OO 2 code that no longer exists? Is OO 3 ever updating?
Have there been updats since my installation? Why doesn't my copy of
OO give me a button to check for updates on line?

The OO I'm running is GO oo 3. I have no solution other than to report
that there is no update option in the Windows version either.
When it opens, it says it is a "development build".

Go to this webpage and follow the instructions exactly as posted by
fooman on November 19th, 2008, 10:25 PM

ubuntuforums.org/archive/index.php/t-987695.html