DataType for bit Comparison

agree with Anders ... data type will not have to be converted to do bitwise math plus Integer takes only 2 bytes (16 bits - just what is needed) to store as opposed to 1+ byte/character for string and then string would have to be cast to a number for bit-math

An int might not work, as inserting 0001100111100010 into an int will strip the leading zeros and only save 1100111100010 (without the first three zeros).  

Unless there's some kind of conversion function to add the leading 0's back if that is necessary expressions.   If it's not necessary for expressions then int works.

And yes saving it as 4 bits is always better then saving it as 17 bits.

adding on

bit <> byte

bit = 0 or 1
byte is a "word" or set number of bits -- for example, 8 bits such as 10001010
 
1 byte can often be equated to 8 bits, but that is not always true; it depends on the environment. Byte can be more bits.
~~~
getting back to original question:

since math will be used on data, best to store as a number. Dropping initial zeros for displaying has no impact on numbers that are stored.

You answered your own question:

I need to store a string of 16 bits

So text of length 16.

/gustav

Is there any way that I could change this SQL Server code to be a loop?

ALTER TRIGGER [dbo].[trigUpdateBitValues] 
ON [dbo].[CodeTrackingReqs] FOR INSERT, UPDATE
AS

	DECLARE @CumulativeSame As Integer
	DECLARE @CumulativeDontCare As Integer
	DECLARE @CodeTrackingReqId As Integer
	DECLARE @Attrib As TinyInt

	SET @CodeTrackingReqId = (SELECT Inserted.CodeTrackingReqId FROM INSERTED)
	SET @CumulativeSame = 0
	SET @CumulativeDontCare = 0

	SET @Attrib = (SELECT Inserted.Attrib1 FROM INSERTED)
	If @Attrib = 1
		SET @CumulativeSame = @CumulativeSame + POWER(2,0)
	If @Attrib = 2
		SET @CumulativeDontCare = @CumulativeDontCare + POWER(2,0)
	
	SET @Attrib = (SELECT Inserted.Attrib2 FROM INSERTED)
	If @Attrib = 1
		SET @CumulativeSame = @CumulativeSame + POWER(2,1)
	If @Attrib = 2
		SET @CumulativeDontCare = @CumulativeDontCare + POWER(2,1)

	SET @Attrib = (SELECT Inserted.Attrib3 FROM INSERTED)
	If @Attrib = 1
		SET @CumulativeSame = @CumulativeSame + POWER(2,2)
	If @Attrib = 2
		SET @CumulativeDontCare = @CumulativeDontCare + POWER(2,2)

	SET @Attrib = (SELECT Inserted.Attrib4 FROM INSERTED)
	If @Attrib = 1
		SET @CumulativeSame = @CumulativeSame + POWER(2,3)
	If @Attrib = 2
		SET @CumulativeDontCare = @CumulativeDontCare + POWER(2,3)

	UPDATE CodeTrackingReqs SET SameMask = @CumulativeSame, DontCareMask = @CumulativeDontCare
		 WHERE CodeTrackingReqId = @CodeTrackingReqId

Select allOpen in new window

>Is there any way that I could change this SQL Server code to be a loop?
I recommend asking that as a new EE question, and responding to the experts that spent time and effort responding to your original question.

> "So text of length 16"

not necessarily. Integer stores 16 bits in Access -- should be good plus it is already a number data type.

Thank you everyone for your feedback.  I think integer will work best because I need to do bit operations but don't need to graphically represent the number in binary.

you're welcome ~ happy to help