Workflow rule to record prior Owner Name

Sometimes you want to record a prior (a.k.a. "old") value for a particular field when it changes. If you need this simply for auditing purposes, tracking field history or implementing feed tracking should be all you need. But an alternative is needed if you want to do something else with that prior value, such as presenting it on a report or using it in a formula field.

The easiest way to record the prior value for something like Owner ID (could be Lead, Account, etc.) is to create a workflow rule and field update that uses the PRIORVALUE() function.

To see this in action, try the following to store the prior Lead Owner ID:

1. Create a Text(80) field on the Lead object named PriorLeadOwnerId
2. Create a workflow rule named, "Set Prior Lead Owner ID". For evaluation criteria, select "Evaluate the rule when a record is created, and every time it’s edited". For rule criteria, enter this simple formula: ISCHANGED( OwnerId )
3. Add a new field update action to the workflow rule named PriorLeadOwnerName, which updates the Prior Lead Owner Field by setting it to the formula: PRIORVALUE( OwnerId )
4. Activate the workflow rule

Tip: If you want store prior related values, such as Owner Name instead of Owner ID, you can actually use a formula field to work around a PRIORVALUE() limitation.

For example, you can create a formula field labeled Lead Owner Name with formula, BLANKVALUE( Owner:Queue.Name , Owner:User.FirstName + ' ' + Owner:User.LastName ), and then use this formula field in the above workflow rule instead of OwnerId.

At this time, workflow rules still cannot set a Lookup field to a dynamic or formulaic value. So while a workflow rule certainly is convenient, it's important to remember that in Winter '15 there are a couple of other more powerful alternatives. 

• Lightning Process Builder: Beta feature that seems poised to replace workflow rules once it becomes GA.
• Apex triggers: Nothing quite beats the power and precision of an Apex trigger, But you will need to learn some new syntax and guidelines.