OOP-4 Lookup hashmap

[K. Tsang]

I once done this assignment a while back and now trying to enhance it and stuff. But I found a potential problem with my implementation.

When the hashmap is created should the value be a "Thing" or "String" through the getDescription() method?
eg HashMap<Integer, String> hMap ... or HashMap<Integer,Thing> hMap ...
assuming I populate the hashmap like this:
hMap.put(1, new BookOnTape()); //<Integer,Thing>
hMap.put(1, new BookOnTape().getDescription()); //<Integer,String>

Another way of asking is once the hashmap is populated, should the Thing's serial number be the same as the hashmap key?

Thanks

[Marilyn de Queiroz]

The value should be a Thing.

It is ok if the Thing's serial number is the same as the hashmap key, but the value should be the Thing, not the Thing's description.

[K. Tsang]

Thanks Marilyn, I got the serial number same as hashmap key