gistfile1.rb

class ContactType < EnumerateIt::Base
  associate_values(
    :email        => 1,
    :sms          => 2,
    :phone        => 3,
    :smoke_signal => 4
  )
end

person = Person.new
person.contact_types = [1, 2, 4]

# | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 
# | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 
#
# 1101(2) ==> 13(10) ==> record 13 to the database
#
# ... and convert back from 13(10) to binary to get the values back.