code: def get_element_id(self, complete_name):
          
          [group, name] = complete_name.split('.')
          element = self.get_element(group, name)
          if element:
              return element.ident
          else:
              logger.warning('Unable to find variable [%s]', complete_name)
              return None
docs: Get the TocElement element id-number of the element with the
          supplied name.