diff --git a/libsrc/include/nginterface_v2.hpp b/libsrc/include/nginterface_v2.hpp
index 2f14a882..388496d2 100644
--- a/libsrc/include/nginterface_v2.hpp
+++ b/libsrc/include/nginterface_v2.hpp
@@ -60,6 +60,9 @@ DLL_HEADER int Ng_GetNElements ();
 template <int DIM> 
 DLL_HEADER Ng_Element Ng_GetElement (int nr);
 
+template <int DIM> 
+DLL_HEADER int Ng_GetElementIndex (int nr);
+
 
 /// Curved Elements:
 /// xi..... DIM_EL local coordinates
diff --git a/ng/demoview.hpp b/ng/demoview.hpp
index e00b0420..91ae8fe3 100644
--- a/ng/demoview.hpp
+++ b/ng/demoview.hpp
@@ -98,7 +98,6 @@ template <class S>
 class InterpolationSpline
 {
 protected:
-  // typedef Vec<3, InterpolationPoint<S> > intpts;
   // Array < InterpolationPoint<S>[3] > ip;
 
   class intpts
diff --git a/ng/nginterface_v2.cpp b/ng/nginterface_v2.cpp
index 3cd605a3..f1461516 100644
--- a/ng/nginterface_v2.cpp
+++ b/ng/nginterface_v2.cpp
@@ -154,6 +154,28 @@ template <> DLL_HEADER Ng_Element Ng_GetElement<3> (int nr)
 }
 
 
+template <>
+DLL_HEADER int Ng_GetElementIndex<1> (int nr)
+{
+  return (*mesh)[SegmentIndex(nr)].si;
+}
+
+template <>
+DLL_HEADER int Ng_GetElementIndex<2> (int nr)
+{
+  int ind = (*mesh)[SurfaceElementIndex(nr)].GetIndex(); 
+  return mesh->GetFaceDescriptor(ind).BCProperty();
+}
+
+template <>
+DLL_HEADER int Ng_GetElementIndex<3> (int nr)
+{
+  return (*mesh)[ElementIndex(nr)].GetIndex();
+}
+
+
+
+
 
 template <>
 DLL_HEADER void Ng_MultiElementTransformation<3,3> (int elnr, int npts,