This template displays the name of the previous state that the work item was in if it was ever changed.
If the work item has never been transitioned to a different status, “None” will be displayed.
Configuration
To use the Previous status template, simply select it from the template grid. Filter by Status to find it faster.
Parameters
This template does not require any additional parameter configuration.
Expert mode
If you switch to Expert mode you can see the formula field in the Expression Parser. You can now tweak the expression to create a custom formula field based on this template.
Expression
General expression:
%{issue.status.previous}
Details
1. What does the expression do?
The expression returnsthe name of the previous status that a work item was in before its current status. If the work item has never changed status, the field will show “None”.
2. Step-by-step breakdown
-
%{issue.status.previous}: Refers to the previous status of the current work item.
3. Examples
-
If a work item moved from "To Do" to "In Progress", it will return "To Do".
-
If a work item has always been in "To Do" and never changed, the field will display "None".
4. Real-life use cases
-
Tracking workflow progress: You can use this expression in reports or dashboards to quickly see where a work item came from before its current state.
-
Auditing transitions: If you want to check if work items are skipping steps or moving through statuses as expected, this field helps you identify the last status.