A generic process for automatically maintaining the previous page. It assumes the creation of two application items, G_PREV_PAGE_ID, G_CURR_PAGE_ID

Oracle-APEX-Previous-Page-Process.sql

-- this is an application process that runs onload of every page. Optionally this can be adjusted to not use the bind variable
-- references and added into an application initialize database session code

-- avoid MODAL and POPUP pages from updating previous page. A custom back item can be created for abnormal workflows requireing modals/popups
if apex_page.get_page_mode(:APP_ID, :APP_PAGE_ID) = 'NORMAL' then
  if :G_CURR_PAGE_ID != :APP_PAGE_ID then -- if the page has changed
    :G_PREV_PAGE_ID := :G_CURR_PAGE_ID;
  end if;
  :G_CURR_PAGE_ID := :APP_PAGE_ID;
 end if;