diff --git a/src/SIM/SIMinput.C b/src/SIM/SIMinput.C
index 343d632f..3228cacc 100644
--- a/src/SIM/SIMinput.C
+++ b/src/SIM/SIMinput.C
@@ -1677,5 +1677,19 @@ const TopEntity& SIMinput::getEntity (const std::string& name) const
 
 SIMinput::IdxVec3* SIMinput::getDiscretePoint (int idx)
 {
-  return idx < 0 || idx >= (int)myTopPts.size() ? NULL : &myTopPts[idx];
+  return idx < 0 || idx >= (int)myTopPts.size() ? nullptr : &myTopPts[idx];
+}
+
+
+bool SIMinput::getTopItemNodes (const TopItem& titem, IntVec& glbNodes) const
+{
+  ASMbase* pch = this->getPatch(titem.patch);
+  if (pch)
+    pch->getBoundaryNodes(titem.item,glbNodes);
+  else if (!titem.patch && titem.item >= 0 && titem.item < (int)myTopPts.size())
+    glbNodes.push_back(myTopPts[titem.item].first);
+  else
+    return false;
+
+  return true;
 }
diff --git a/src/SIM/SIMinput.h b/src/SIM/SIMinput.h
index 174fbe46..7da5b7a6 100644
--- a/src/SIM/SIMinput.h
+++ b/src/SIM/SIMinput.h
@@ -43,10 +43,11 @@ public:
     int geo_level;  //!< The time level for the (adapted) geometry in the file
     char basis;     //!< The basis to inject field into (for mixed)
     char component; //!< Component for field (for functions)
-    std::string sim_field;  //!< The name of the field in the SIM class
+    std::string sim_field;  //!< The name of the field in the %SIM class
     std::string file_basis; //!< Basis for field on file
     std::string file_field; //!< The field name in the file or type of function
-    std::string function;   //!< Function if given in function form
+    std::string function;   //!< Function expression if given in function form
+
     //! \brief Default constructor.
     ICInfo() : file_level(-1), geo_level(0), basis(1), component(0) {}
     //! \brief Constructor providing the field name.
@@ -256,6 +257,9 @@ public:
   //! \brief Returns the whole topology set container (for testing only).
   const TopologySet& getTopology() const { return myEntitys; }
 
+  //! \brief Returns the node numbers associated with a topological item.
+  bool getTopItemNodes(const TopItem& titem, std::vector<int>& glbNodes) const;
+
   //! \brief Returns pointer to an indexed discrete point.
   IdxVec3* getDiscretePoint(int idx);