Spreadsheets’ enormous success have mainly been because of the simplicity of the user interface. Gates built on that simplicity by making user-defined VBA functions easily available in an Excel cell’s formula. Such user-defined functions are called “add-ins.”
According to OpenOffice Help, add-ins are now “outdated.” They recommend instead using some heavy geek stuff at http://api.openoffice.org/docs/DevelopersGuide/Components/Components.xhtml . Click on that link - it's hilarious. If you still want to write an add-in, OpenOffice Help explains “If you would like to program an Add-In yourself, you can learn here which functions must be exported by the external DLL so that the Add-In can be successfully attached.” (See http://plan-b-for-openoffice.org/ooo-help/en-US/WIN/scalc/scalc/scalc/01/04060112 .) So, unless you already know what an “external DLL” is, have the wherewithal to make one, and know how to “attach” it, use Excel.
Too bad Excel won't let you print to .pdf, but that's another story - stay tuned.
