Entities – Backtrack to the Previous Value of an Attribute

✨ What Is This Feature?

DiliTrust LEM keeps a full history of every change made to an entity's attributes. This is essential for legal and regulatory accuracy — but it creates a problem when you accidentally enter a wrong value and then correct it: your history ends up recording a change that was never truly intended.

The Backtrack to the Previous Value feature solves this. With a single click, you can remove an erroneous current value and instantly restore the most recently recorded historical value — keeping your data history clean, accurate, and legally reliable.

Practical example: A company's name has been "Heavens Corp" since 2 February 2024. In May 2024, you accidentally type "Heaven Corp" (a typo). You catch the mistake in June. Without backtrack, correcting the typo creates a new history entry dated June — making it appear as though the name changed again on that date. With backtrack, you simply remove the erroneous entry and the original value is restored with its original date. No false history entry is created.

✅ Prerequisites

• You must have edit rights on the entity you wish to modify.
• The attribute must be a historized field — i.e., a field that tracks changes over time (such as company name, legal form, registered address, etc.).
• The attribute must have at least one prior historical value. If the field has never been changed since it was first entered, the backtrack option will not be available.

⭐ Step-by-Step Guide

1. Open the entity (company, person, or any entity type) in DiliTrust LEM.
2. Locate the attribute you want to revert — for example, a company name, legal form, or address.
3. Click the clock icon next to that field to open the History panel.
4. In the History panel, look at the Current value row. If at least one prior historical value exists, you will see a delete (bin) icon on that row.
5. Click the bin icon on the Current value row.
6. A confirmation dialog will appear. Take a moment to verify that the value shown as the previous entry is indeed the correct one.
7. Click Confirm. The field will immediately revert to the most recent historical value. The incorrect entry is permanently removed, and the History panel updates to reflect the restored state.

Your attribute now displays the correct previous value, and the erroneous entry has been cleanly removed from the history.

✨ Tips & Best Practices

• Act promptly: Use backtrack as soon as you spot an error, before additional changes are made on top of it.
• Backtrack ≠ Edit: Editing a field creates a new history entry dated today. Backtracking removes the incorrect entry entirely and restores the previous value with its original validity date — preserving the true integrity of your history.
• Review history before confirming: Always check the history panel to make sure the value you are reverting to is the correct one, since the action cannot be undone.
• Keep audit trails clean: This feature is specifically designed to eliminate noise in your historization records caused by typos or accidental modifications — especially important for regulatory reporting and compliance.

❌ Limitations & Known Constraints

• Only available when prior history exists: The bin icon appears on the Current value row only when the field has been changed at least once. If only the initial value exists, there is nothing to backtrack to and the option will not be shown.
• One step at a time: You can revert only the most recent change in a single action. It is not possible to backtrack multiple steps simultaneously.
• Historized attributes only: This feature applies exclusively to fields that are tracked over time. Non-historized fields do not have a history panel and are not affected.
• Action is irreversible: Once confirmed, the removed entry cannot be recovered. Always review the history carefully before clicking Confirm.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Why don't I see the bin icon on the Current value row?

The bin icon only appears when at least one prior historical value exists for that attribute. If the field has never been changed since its initial entry, there is no previous value to revert to, so the option is not displayed.

Will the backtrack action be recorded in the audit log?

Yes. The backtrack operation is logged in the audit trail for full traceability. The removed entry is recorded as deleted, ensuring complete accountability.

What date will the restored value carry?

The restored value retains its original historical validity date. For example, if "Heavens Corp" was valid from 2 February 2024, after a backtrack it will still show that original date — not today's date. This is precisely what makes backtrack more accurate than simply editing the field.

Can I backtrack several steps at once?

No. The current version supports reverting only the most recent change. To go back multiple steps, you would need to perform the backtrack action successively, provided prior historical values still exist.

Does this feature work on all entity types?

Yes. Backtrack is available on all entity types that support historized attributes in DiliTrust LEM, including companies, persons, and other entity types.

I made the same mistake again after backtracking. Can I use backtrack a second time?

Yes — as long as a prior historical value exists after the new incorrect entry, the bin icon will appear again and you can perform another backtrack.