# Reporting - Parameter Expression to return yday date

**URL:** <https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/reporting-parameter-expression-to-return-yday-date/12643>\
**Category:** Ignition\
**Created:** [February 5, 2017, 2:37am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/reporting-parameter-expression-to-return-yday-date/12643 "2017-02-05T02:37:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Fccontrols\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/977dab/32.png) [@Fccontrols\_guy](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Fccontrols_guy)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2017, 2:37am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/reporting-parameter-expression-to-return-yday-date/12643/1 "2017-02-05T02:37:11Z")

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Hello ,

I am trying to build a parameter within a report (DATA) that returns yesterdays Date. I assume using  
the “now()” function minus one day within the expression should suffice but i am not having much luck.  
i am not very strong with Java or Python and I am confused on how to use this functionality.

now() - INTERVAL 1 DAY ? ![:scratch:](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/original/1X/76d1620bec252bfac07050c889ff5a91dc8a9c25.gif ":scratch:")

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![accyroy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/accyroy/32/3386_2.png) [@accyroy](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/accyroy)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2017, 10:24am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/reporting-parameter-expression-to-return-yday-date/12643/2 "2017-02-05T10:24:26Z")

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Try this:

```auto
dateArithmetic(now(),-24,"hours")
```

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![KathyApplebaum](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/kathyapplebaum/32/7261_2.png) [@KathyApplebaum](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/KathyApplebaum)\
**Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 3:47pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/reporting-parameter-expression-to-return-yday-date/12643/3 "2017-02-06T15:47:00Z")

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You can also use this:

```auto
addDays(now(), -1)
```

If you want a specific time for yesterday, pass that result into [setTime](https://docs.inductiveautomation.com/display/DOC79/setTime)