BITOR Function

Input values exceed 2^48 limit or are negative. BITOR only accepts non-negative integers from 0 to 281,474,976,710,655 (2^48 - 1). Values outside this range cannot be processed.

1. Verify both numbers are within the valid range: 0 to 281,474,976,710,655 2. Check for negative values and convert to positive if appropriate 3. For values exceeding the limit, consider breaking the calculation into smaller parts 4. Use conditional logic to validate before calculating: =IF(AND(A1>=0, A1<2^48, B1>=0, B1<2^48), BITOR(A1, B1), "Out of range") 5. Consider if your data should be scaled or normalized to fit within valid bounds

Always validate input ranges before applying BITOR. Use data validation rules to restrict input to valid ranges. Add error checking formulas to alert users when values are out of bounds.

Non-numeric values provided as arguments. BITOR requires both parameters to be numeric. This error occurs when cells contain text, boolean values, empty cells, or error values.

1. Verify all cell references contain numeric values using =ISNUMBER(A1) 2. Check for text that looks like numbers but is stored as text 3. Use VALUE() to convert text to numbers: =BITOR(VALUE(A1), VALUE(B1)) 4. Remove any special characters, spaces, or formatting that might cause text interpretation 5. Use IFERROR to handle invalid inputs gracefully: =IFERROR(BITOR(A1, B1), "Invalid input") 6. Apply consistent number formatting to ensure proper data types

Use ISNUMBER() to validate inputs before processing. Implement data validation rules to ensure only numeric values can be entered. Consider adding input validation formulas at the data entry point.

Decimal numbers provided instead of integers. BITOR automatically truncates decimal values to integers, which may produce unexpected results if you're not aware of this behavior. For example, BITOR(5.9, 3.9) treats inputs as BITOR(5, 3).

1. Use INT() or TRUNC() to explicitly convert decimals to integers: =BITOR(INT(A1), INT(B1)) 2. Use ROUND() if you need to round rather than truncate: =BITOR(ROUND(A1,0), ROUND(B1,0)) 3. Verify your data source doesn't introduce decimal values through calculations 4. Add validation to check for and alert on decimal inputs: =IF(OR(A1<>INT(A1), B1<>INT(B1)), "Warning: decimals truncated", BITOR(A1, B1)) 5. Review formulas that feed into BITOR to ensure they produce integer results

Always round or truncate decimal values to integers before using BITOR. Use data validation to prevent decimal entry. Document that BITOR requires integer inputs in your spreadsheet instructions.

Misunderstanding of bitwise OR logic. Users often confuse bitwise OR with logical OR or arithmetic operations. Bitwise OR compares each bit position independently: a bit in the result is 1 when either or both corresponding input bits are 1.

1. Review binary representation using DEC2BIN: =DEC2BIN(BITOR(A1, B1)) 2. Remember OR logic: 0 OR 0 = 0, all other combinations = 1 3. Test with simple examples: BITOR(5, 3) where 5=101, 3=011, result=111 (7) 4. Use a truth table to verify expected results 5. Visualize the operation: create helper columns showing binary representations 6. Compare with related functions (BITAND, BITXOR) to understand differences

Test with simple, well-understood examples before applying to complex data. Use DEC2BIN to visualize binary representations. Create reference examples in your spreadsheet for common operations.