Java

  protected int findEntry(Object key) throws InvalidKeyException, IOException {
  int avail = 0;
  checkKey(key);
  int i = hashValue(key);
  int j = i;
  StudentRecord currentRecord=new StudentRecord();
  do {
    file.seek(i*StudentRecord.SIZE);
    if (currentRecord == null)   return -i - 1;  // entry is not found
    if (currentRecord.flag ==0) { // bucket is deactivated
  avail = i;      // remember that this slot is available
  i = (i + 1) % N;
    }
    else if (T.isEqualTo(key,currentRecord.stNr))  // we have found our entry
  return i;
    else // this slot is occupied--we must keep looking
  i = (i + 1) % N;
  } while (i != j);
  return -avail - 1;  // entry is not found
}