Ok as you may have realized kubuntu and ubuntu ships with OpenOffice 2.4. The steps below will allow you to upgrade the version 3 and also install additional applicaations such as database which is the equivalent to MS Access.

First we need to add the source repository to get the files needed to upgrade OpenOffice.

Click on the start menu (the large K on the taskbar), click Applications then in that menu click on Sytem then select Package Manger.
Once the Package Manager is opened click on Sources.
Click Edit Software Sources
On the window that opens click on the Third party tab and select Add.
Copy and Paste

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

in the window and select ok.
Close the windows and select Fetch Current Package List
Once the lists have been downloaded click on the search button and do a search for openoffice
OpenOffice.org will be the first result in the list. click on it, it will show you some details about the application and what applications come in the suite.
Check the box that says Install this package
Select Changes or Preview from the left. You will see a list of files that will be downloaded.
Select apply changes to start the install.