I thank everyone for your replies. Much of the advice for the time
being is far more advanced than what I'm currently capable of
digesting. I will be looking back on that info later.

My main question is if OpenOffice spreadsheet controls would be easily
understandable on first sight to someone who has only used Excel? I am
looking to get help from her to set up basic addition and subtraction
tables in OO Spreadsheet, but she has only ever used Excel.