[users] problem opening open office text files

[Richard Saltus]

All of a sudden, I cannot open previously created or new text documents
saved as Open Office files or Word files. The desktop icons are blank, and
when I click them, it asks me what program I want to open them with. None of
them do, of course. I reinstalled open office, but no change.  Same problem
if I use the drop down menu and try to open a Recent Document. The program
doesn't know how to open it.
Please help me figure this out.
thanks
richard saltus