I us eOpenOffice, but some of the things apply for Star Office as well.
Install it as root. then run the setup program that is in the install directory(somewhere in /usr). Choose workstation installation and it will set it up so there is a folder in your home directory, and there should be a program in there that you run.
btw- Xpiss, the source was released becuase Sun has begun to realize that Open Source is good. It allows them to have bugs fixed faster through it's sister software, OpenOffice.