I approached problem which obviously is not solvable by a trigger. I need to update Contacts's field on change on it's owner's field. Not accomplishable in trigger because MIXED_DML_EXCEPTION. Workaround it use future handle, however I have another future handler on Contact, so dead end this way. That's why I need to use workflow rule.

I created a rule which is triggered on object Contact with rule criteria set to Owner.Active = false. This does not fire at all. If I set rule criteria to any field on actual Contact, it does fire. If I set rule to any other field on Contact's owner, it does not fire. Do I get it wrong and it is not possible to set rule criteria to object's lookup? Or should that work?

Thanks in regard for answer.

I approached problem which obviously is not solvable by a trigger. I need to update Contacts's field on change on it's owner's field. Not accomplishable in trigger because MIXED_DML_EXCEPTION. Workaround it use future handle, however I have another future handler on Contact, so dead end this way. That's why I need to use workflow rule.

I created a rule which is triggered on object Contact with rule criteria set to Owner.Active = false. This does not fire at all. If I set rule criteria to any field on actual Contact, it does fire. If I set rule to any other field on Contact's owner, it does not fire. Do I get it wrong and it is not possible to set rule criteria to object's lookup? Or should that work?