Manually entering into a date field: < today's date in M/D/YYYY format gets me the record dates less than the date I specified. My problem is using a script and the set field step when I specify : "<" & statuscurrent date. I get the records only with the current date. Using a pause after the set field command before the perform find, it appears the "<" is not entered into the field at all with the set field command. Does this mean that set field will not enter "invalid" characters into a field even in find mode? Thanks in advance.

Try using the Insert Calculated Result [] script step instead of Set Field [].

Try using insert calculated results instead of set field and change date to text (date to text (status current date)

If you use just Status(CurrentDate) it will enter the numberical value in the field which is a date field therefore giving you the wrong search. You can change the date to text and insert it through the script step and it works.