Currently I have a calculated container field which shows a button icon if the status of a request is "open" and is set to nothing if the request status is in any other condition. Im not really happy with the way the button looks...

is there a different way to go about this situation possibly without using a container?

Perhaps the graphic is being resized to fit the field? If so, you can make it look better by creating a button that is the correct size, and set the field's graphic options to crop rather than resize.

As for alternatives, you could use a container that's behind your other objects so that the background color changes based on status; or you could use text field and change the color, style etc. to indicate status.

I would make a dish'y looking button with native vektorized lines and boxes, and around it draw a visibility-trick portal:

http://www.filemakerpros.com/MoreVis.zip

--sd

Thanks for the tips. I was really hoping for a "hide layout object" type trick... wouldnt that be nice... It's just gettin tedious using conditional calculated fields

Well you could make an invisible two tabbed interface, and switch it by script!

Jikes, you're on fm7 so this is no go!

--sd

Thats not a bad idea.. and sorry im running 8.5 i just havent taken the time to update the ol profile... which i shall do now