public function find_item($id, $suppresserror = false) {
        if (isset($this->items)) {
            foreach ($this->items as $key => $child) {
                if ($child->id == $id) {
                    return $this->items[$key];
                }
            }
            foreach (array_keys($this->items) as $key) {
                $thischild = $this->items[$key];
                $ref = $thischild->children->find_item($id, true);//error always reported at top level
                if ($ref !== null) {
                    return $ref;
                }
            }
        }

        if (!$suppresserror) {
            print_error('listnoitem');
        }
        return null;
    }