# Display format for BIT fields (option to show numeric value)

**URL:** <https://forums.toadworld.com/t/display-format-for-bit-fields-option-to-show-numeric-value/15012>\
**Category:** Toad for SQL Server\
**Created:** [September 20, 2011, 9:36pm UTC](https://forums.toadworld.com/t/display-format-for-bit-fields-option-to-show-numeric-value/15012 "2011-09-20T21:36:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![JensGC](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/quest/user_avatar/forums.toadworld.com/jensgc/32/50_2.png) [@JensGC](https://forums.toadworld.com/u/JensGC)\
**Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 9:36pm UTC](https://forums.toadworld.com/t/display-format-for-bit-fields-option-to-show-numeric-value/15012/1 "2011-09-20T21:36:06Z")

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DECLARE @BitDemo TABLE (bitField **BIT** )

INSERT INTO @BitDemo VALUES ( **1** ), ( **0** ), (NULL)

SELECT \* FROM @BitDemo

Bit fields are shown as checkmarks in the Toad Grid - why is it not possible to have them displayed as numeric values (0, 1 or NULL)?

I don’t mind having the option to “translate” a value into something more readable (i.e. a checkmark instead of a number) - but it should by my choice, not Quest’s decision. The problem some users might face is how to write a query involving a bit field - since T-SQL doesn’t recognize “WHERE bitField IS CHECKED”, “WHERE bitField = True” or similar constructs - but only the known numeric values.

Demoscript:

(try comparing the display in SMSS with Toad)

I’ve tested the above code in 5.6 Beta - and haven’t found any settings to control the display format for bit fields.