What is field history tracking?
Field history tracking allows you to capture when the values within specified fields change when a record is edited.
Why use field history tracking?
Use field history tracking to create an audit trail of modifications to your company’s critical data. This can be particularly helpful in identifying instances where data was updated incorrectly and by whom.
How do you enable field history tracking?
Step 1.
Standard objects
Select “Set History Tracking” within its field configuration:
Then select the fields to include for tracking:
Custom Objects
Ensure the object properties have “Track Field History” enabled:
Then click “Set History Tracking” and select fields from the object:
Step 2.
Standard and Custom Objects
Add the field history related list to the page layout:
Reporting on field history
Once field history tracking is enabled, you will be able to report on that object’s history. This report is not intended to perform analysis (e.g. how many days on average does each lead stay in the “Uncontacted” status); consider analytic snapshots for that type of analysis.
Other considerations
- Field history tracking will only track values for specified fields once enabled. Enabling history tracking or adding additional fields will not yield any historical data.
- Fields longer than 255 characters (such as long text, rich text, and multi-select picklist fields) do not track values when changed (only that a change has occurred).
- You can track up to 20 fields per object by default. The limit can be raised by contacting Salesforce support, but a) you may have to pay for the increase and b) it may increase record save time.
Is there a requirement to add field history related list to the page layout? Will it not work without doing this? can you report on field history without adding it?
Thanks
I was also wondering about this.
The data will still get generated and can be reported on, yes
small typo:
“you may have to pay to for the increase,” could be, “you may have to pay for the increase”
Thanks, updated
Hey John , I followed all steps such as setting up field history tracking and then adding the layout, however i still dont see why history did not show up?
Field tracking has to be enabled before you make an edit – try making a change after you’ve enabled it and added the list view
Activity seems to be special object that can’t be customized. I see Event Fields and Task fields but no where there is provision to add new fields. Also I am not clear with why Parent child relationship is not allowed from standard object.
Regdds
Nikhil
A standard object cannot be the child- its a limit enforced by salesforce
Enabling more than 20 tracked fields in SF now requires a purchase of some kind. They don’t raise the limits anymore just by opening a case.
Thanks – updated.
Hi John,
Could you please clarify below queries :
1. We cannot have field history tracking option for Activity object right?
2. Can we able to track history for workflow action like : email alert, task and field update.
Thanks
1. Not currently, vote here: https://success.salesforce.com/ideaview?id=08730000000BpqcAAC
2. Yes, a field update will trigger a field history event
For query 2. In my opinion we cannot track history for Email alert right, but we can track history event for task.
Please correct me if I am wrong.
Thanks for your help.
A workflow action to create a task will create a task, but that typically doesn’t change anything on the parent record in terms of field tracking (although it would update the last activity date) – to record a workflow email, create a task in the completed status in the workflow as well
Hi John, I cant seem to get this working…I have Field History Tracking enabled, I selected the fields I want to track on the Account object but when I go to add a “Field History” related list to the page layout, I dont have that option, I only see “Account History” What am I missing here? Thanks!
You’re doing it correctly. The related list for the fields in the object you want to track will show up as “Object Name” History on the object’s page layout. Check out the last screenshot on this page with “Lead History” related list, that is the field tracking related list on the Lead object. Make some field changes on the Account object and you will see the field tracking history on the “Account History” related list.
Hi John,
Thank you for this site. I’m learning so much!
Your red arrow points to the button Set History Tracking. I see this nowhere, nor do I see a way to get into the settings for an object (maybe because you can’t change anything for a standard object?) and check this out. Where else can I look? Can you actually start tracking history for a standard object or a custom object already in place?
Many thanks.
Hi Margo,
Make sure to ensure the object properties have “Track Field History” enabled (there is a screenshot above). Once that is turned on you should see it.
Got it, as well as for standard objects like Contacts. (We use tracking at work, I just couldn’t find it here as I’ve never had to look for it.) Thank you!
Hey John, Typo under the Reporting on field history section: “This report not intended to perform analysis…” This site offers a lot of useful information that I’ve not yet been exposed to elsewhere. Thanks!
Thanks Luke, updated
Why can you not use this reports for analysis? Isn’t that the purpose of history tracking.
You can but the data isn’t well structured – try running a report with multiple fields being tracked and you’ll get an idea of what I mean
Thanks Luke, updated
Small typo… “enable” doubled up…
“How do you enable enable field history tracking?”
Thanks, updated
Can field tracking be enabled for all Objects (both standard and custom)? I noticed this option was present under the User Object.
I know it can be enabled for most (I suspect not all) standard objects and all custom objects.
It looks like there is an app that enables field tracking on the User Object: https://appexchange.salesforce.com/listingDetail?listingId=a0N3000000B4Dz0EAF