How can I make all records viewed in a certain layout capture the date they are viewed in that layout.

I tried this -

Created a Layout "Special"

In each record, created a Text Field with an autoenter calculation

GetAsText (

   Case (   (Get ( LayoutName )="Special") ;

                Timestamp(Get ( CurrentDate ); Get(CurrentTime)

                          )

         )

            )

This triggers the script only when a new record is created while in the "Special" Layout

How do I trigger a calculation to be done, every time a record goes into a specific layout?

If I avoid the status bar buttons to navigate through records and to layouts, and use buttons on the layout to do the same tasks Can I achive the same results? Would that be the way to do it?

Yup you are going to have to limit navigation to that 'special' layout so that to get to it a user has to press a button.

You can then attach a script to the button that uses a setfield instruction to store the date or time or both into a field and then uses a go to layout instruction.

HTH

Phil