This bug belongs to openoffice.org version 1:2.3.0-1ubuntu5.3 in gutsy-updates.
downgrading to 1:2.3.0-1ubuntu5 (gutsy release) gives you back the ä and the other special characters.
as this bug report dates to 2007-11-30 it may have been introduced with ubuntu5.2, as launchpad says 5.3 has been published in december.
please release a version ubuntu5.4 reverting the patches done in 5.2 and 5.3 as the small bug fixes done there don't count against this ugly ä bug.
This bug belongs to openoffice.org version 1:2.3.0-1ubuntu5.3 in gutsy-updates.
downgrading to 1:2.3.0-1ubuntu5 (gutsy release) gives you back the ä and the other special characters.
as this bug report dates to 2007-11-30 it may have been introduced with ubuntu5.2, as launchpad says 5.3 has been published in december.
please release a version ubuntu5.4 reverting the patches done in 5.2 and 5.3 as the small bug fixes done there don't count against this ugly ä bug.