I've already written 90% of my thesis in OO unfortunately. My fall back is to convert to a Word document if I can't work it out soon, or even handwrite the refs.

That's reassuring. Everyone I know seems to have 1st author/other papers except me, even second years, or undergrad project students get a mention. I did write a communication, but then the prof decided he wanted to add data to it, then lost interest. My 1st project was a catalogue of disasters, and I insisted on a new project at the end of year 2 as needed results. My new protein has generated papers, and invited to conferences for other people so far, so maybe I should be more hopeful.

Does anyone know how to do a bibliography in open office? Ideally I would like to import some references to avoid retyping.
I do have 50 references already stored in endnote from windows, and in an open source program "Bibliophile," but I'm not sure if I can import the files into open office.

I'm a 4th year on 3 years funding (Biochemistry) and have no papers, not even an acknowledgement. :( It makes me feel like I'm not doing well. How bad is it? Could I get a postdoc/work in industry without any papers?

The consensus with supervisor/young lecturer friend is that maybe I could get something after I have written up, but I guess I would then be working for nothing and I've seen it drag on with people, e.g. a postdoc went away to do a postdoc and came back to write to finish a paper, and another PhD has been finished 1- 2 years and I heard my supervisor saying he was working on his paper.

It sounds like nerves and the papers are a very good sign.
A prominant researcher will probably be really busy, may not read it too carefully and will have to rush off after 2 hours, if like some examiners I've met.
Maybe your supervisor thinks you are good if they have chosen that examiner, as weaker people often get weaker examiners. It would reflect badly on your supervisor if you did badly with a prominant researcher, so they must have confidence in you.I've not known anyone fail as the supervisor reads the thesis and decides if it is ready or not. It may depend on university rules, some allow major corrections, some only have minor corrections or fail.
It sounds like nerves, so good luck.

Not reading my 1st year literature review, or attending the talk. Telling me (if I hadn't noticed) he hadn't been interested in the 1st project I did for 2 years (from collaborator), but was interested in new one. Taking months to read single chapters of people's theses. Turning up for lab talk (with no warning) to hear a visitor talk about the protein I applied to work on and never got to do. Taking over the questions section of my 3rd year talk to talk about a postdoc's project, I didn't know a lot about as I was on new project. Then talking into coffee and not noticing whether I was there or not.

With the patent stuff it is supposed to be one of the hardest professional qualifications in the UK, but could use my subject and has PhD entrants.
There's a balance between being challenged without causing myself to burn out. Maybe just a break like you said would help.

There are lots of people in my lab that haven't actually left including graduated 5th years finishing up before they leave/doing extra work,and someone with my supervisor who is 2 years above me who hasn't written up. :-0
I think my issue all along has been that I'm someone who needs more structured help and deadlines.

I get what you're saying about wanting to be able to do an academic job by the end even if you don't want one.
Have you got any good ideas? I've thought about patent law but then I'd be subjecting myself to years of exams after the stress of a PhD. A bit of me wants to do something completely different.

Would make a nice Christmas * present under the Christmas tree

*or ...er Birthday present next year

I've emailed a lecturer associated with the group, as not quite ready to email my supervisor and called in sick for my lab talk and demonstrating.
I know I have to finish, and have taken breaks, it's working hard that's the problem and no-one checks up on me.
I won't be going into academia

Thanks for the long sympathetic reply. I'm still thinking about what to do.

Cont'd...My supervisor doesn't take much of an interest in my project and no-one says anything when I take days off because I feel miserable. I've done an hour's work since last Wednesday.
I don't know if I should ask for help or not as there is just a culture of working things out for yourself and survival of the fittest. I talked to my departent confidentially about problems with my supervisor in year 1 and I went to a committee meeting and people there knew about the "complaint" I had unknowingly made. If I start saying I have problems it will reflect badly on me :(

I'm in my 4th year now (Biochemistry), 3 years funding and as the title says. I've had a lot of problems with depression and anxiety (getting help) and don't think I am cut out for academia but it didn't seem right to give up after 1 or 2 years. I don't feel I know my subject properly and I'm struggling, but pretty much on my own. I still don't know what I will do after my PhD.

I am supposed to demonstrate today/tomorrow and do a labtalk but I just want to avoid all of them. I have not made it off my couch today and have about 2 hours to call in "sick" for demonstrating. I feel I will humiliate myself if I do my labtalk as I don't know as much as I should (I changed projects after 2 years, was supposed to be doing a different project and don't have a relevent Chemistry background since about A-level)

Of course when the magnet is running-you are working lol
overnight,all weekend....working

I wanted to do immunology but got offered this one lured by cool disease states that I never got to do
My eyes always glaze over