diff --git a/config/alfresco/subsystems/thirdparty/default/openoffice-transform-context.xml b/config/alfresco/subsystems/thirdparty/default/openoffice-transform-context.xml
index 18d545cad7..f81f4785dd 100644
--- a/config/alfresco/subsystems/thirdparty/default/openoffice-transform-context.xml
+++ b/config/alfresco/subsystems/thirdparty/default/openoffice-transform-context.xml
@@ -13,6 +13,13 @@
       </property>
    </bean>
 
+   <!--  We have to convert the user directory to an Open Office compatible URI -->
+   <bean id="userInstallationURI" class="org.alfresco.util.OpenOfficeURI">
+      <constructor-arg>
+         <value>${ooo.user}</value>
+      </constructor-arg>
+   </bean>
+
    <bean id="openOfficeStartupCommand" class="org.alfresco.util.exec.RuntimeExec">
       <property name="commandsAndArguments">
          <map>
@@ -20,7 +27,14 @@
                <list>
                   <value>${ooo.exe}</value>
                   <value>-accept=socket,host=localhost,port=8100;urp;StarOffice.ServiceManager</value>
-                  <value>-env:UserInstallation=file:///${ooo.user}</value>
+                  <bean class="org.alfresco.util.StringAppendingFactoryBean">
+                     <property name="items">
+                        <list>
+                           <value>-env:UserInstallation=</value>
+                           <ref bean="userInstallationURI" />
+                        </list>
+                     </property>
+                  </bean>
                   <value>-nologo</value>
                   <value>-headless</value>
                   <value>-nofirststartwizard</value>
diff --git a/source/java/org/alfresco/util/OpenOfficeURI.java b/source/java/org/alfresco/util/OpenOfficeURI.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2683cccfab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/source/java/org/alfresco/util/OpenOfficeURI.java
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2005-2009 Alfresco Software Limited.
+ *
+ * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+ * modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License
+ * as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2
+ * of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+ * along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
+ * Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA.
+
+ * As a special exception to the terms and conditions of version 2.0 of 
+ * the GPL, you may redistribute this Program in connection with Free/Libre 
+ * and Open Source Software ("FLOSS") applications as described in Alfresco's 
+ * FLOSS exception.  You should have received a copy of the text describing 
+ * the FLOSS exception, and it is also available here: 
+ * http://www.alfresco.com/legal/licensing"
+ */
+package org.alfresco.util;
+
+import java.io.File;
+import java.io.IOException;
+
+/**
+ * A class that attempts to embody OpenOffice's rules for encoding file URIs which appear to differ from Java's. A
+ * Windows style path is always prefixed "file:///" whereas a unix one is prefixed "file://".
+ * 
+ * @author dward
+ */
+public class OpenOfficeURI
+{
+
+    /** The source file. */
+    private File source;
+
+    /**
+     * Instantiates a new open office URI.
+     * 
+     * @param source
+     *            the source file to convert to a URI
+     */
+    public OpenOfficeURI(File source)
+    {
+        this.source = source;
+    }
+
+    /*
+     * (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see java.lang.Object#toString()
+     */
+    @Override
+    public String toString()
+    {
+        String absolute;
+        try
+        {
+            absolute = this.source.getCanonicalPath();
+        }
+        catch (IOException e)
+        {
+            throw new RuntimeException(e);
+        }
+        if (File.separatorChar != '/')
+        {
+            absolute = absolute.replace(File.separatorChar, '/');
+        }
+        return (absolute.startsWith("/") ? "file://" : "file:///") + absolute;
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/source/java/org/alfresco/util/StringAppendingFactoryBean.java b/source/java/org/alfresco/util/StringAppendingFactoryBean.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..263443406c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/source/java/org/alfresco/util/StringAppendingFactoryBean.java
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2005-2009 Alfresco Software Limited.
+ *
+ * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+ * modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License
+ * as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2
+ * of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+ * along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
+ * Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA.
+
+ * As a special exception to the terms and conditions of version 2.0 of 
+ * the GPL, you may redistribute this Program in connection with Free/Libre 
+ * and Open Source Software ("FLOSS") applications as described in Alfresco's 
+ * FLOSS exception.  You should have received a copy of the text describing 
+ * the FLOSS exception, and it is also available here: 
+ * http://www.alfresco.com/legal/licensing"
+ */
+package org.alfresco.util;
+
+import org.springframework.beans.factory.FactoryBean;
+
+/**
+ * A simple factory for glueing together multiple arguments as a string
+ * 
+ * @author dward
+ */
+public class StringAppendingFactoryBean implements FactoryBean
+{
+
+    /** The items. */
+    private Object[] items;
+
+    /**
+     * Sets the items to be appended together.
+     * 
+     * @param items
+     *            the items
+     */
+    public void setItems(Object[] items)
+    {
+        this.items = items;
+    }
+
+    /*
+     * (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see org.springframework.beans.factory.FactoryBean#getObject()
+     */
+    public Object getObject() throws Exception
+    {
+        if (this.items == null)
+        {
+            return "";
+        }
+        StringBuilder buff = new StringBuilder(1024);
+        for (Object item : this.items)
+        {
+            buff.append(item);
+        }
+        return buff.toString();
+    }
+
+    /*
+     * (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see org.springframework.beans.factory.FactoryBean#getObjectType()
+     */
+    public Class<?> getObjectType()
+    {
+        return String.class;
+    }
+
+    /*
+     * (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see org.springframework.beans.factory.FactoryBean#isSingleton()
+     */
+    public boolean isSingleton()
+    {
+        return true;
+    }
+
+}