for 2016 I itemized but line 40 of 1040 shows $12600 does this mean even though I itemized it was not enough and the standard deduction was used?
It means you did not itemize in 2016 and the total was less than the 2016 standard deduction of $12,600.
It is $12,700 for 2017 and $24,000 for 2018 for Married Filing Joint.