Hi,

>
>But if you need only the original value, i.e. the value of the record as it was before editing, why not use oldval()?

Take a look at the example I have quoted in my reply to Sergey Berezniker:
Just in case, there are 3 things happen in a sequence, form load, user change 1 then user change 2 (both changes made before save).
Field A is changed from A1 to A2 then A2 again. For "User change 2", if in my valid event I compare using oldval() the second A2 is compared to the A1, that is wrong, beause the value before edit is the first A2 which means user is trying to change A2, but eventually key in A2 again in "User change 2".