diff --git a/doc/xschem_man/developer_info.html b/doc/xschem_man/developer_info.html
index ab0611f7..4ea94360 100644
--- a/doc/xschem_man/developer_info.html
+++ b/doc/xschem_man/developer_info.html
@@ -522,6 +522,7 @@ C {verilog_timescale.sym} 1050 -100 0 0 {name=s1 timestep="1ns" precision="1ns"
 
 
 
+
 
 
    <li><kbd>       abort_operation</kbd></li><pre>
@@ -836,6 +837,9 @@ C {verilog_timescale.sym} 1050 -100 0 0 {name=s1 timestep="1ns" precision="1ns"
    --&gt; x3 PLUS LED OUT LEVEL MINUS REF
    instance x3 pin PLUS is attached to net LED, pin OUT to net LEVEL and so on...
    If 'pin' is given restrict map to only that pin </pre>
+   <li><kbd>       instance_number inst [n]</kbd></li><pre>
+   Return the position of instance 'inst' in the instance array 
+   If 'n' is given set indicated instance position to 'n' </pre>
    <li><kbd>       instance_pin_coord inst attr value</kbd></li><pre>
    Return the name and coordinates of pin with 
    attribute 'attr' set to 'value' of instance 'inst'
@@ -1408,6 +1412,8 @@ C {verilog_timescale.sym} 1050 -100 0 0 {name=s1 timestep="1ns" precision="1ns"
 
 
 
+
+
 
 
 
diff --git a/src/scheduler.c b/src/scheduler.c
index 055f52eb..b8e31970 100644
--- a/src/scheduler.c
+++ b/src/scheduler.c
@@ -1983,6 +1983,33 @@ int xschem(ClientData clientdata, Tcl_Interp *interp, int argc, const char * arg
       }
     }
 
+    /* instance_number inst [n]
+     *   Return the position of instance 'inst' in the instance array 
+     *   If 'n' is given set indicated instance position to 'n' */
+    else if(!strcmp(argv[1], "instance_number"))
+    {
+      int i;
+      if(!xctx) {Tcl_SetResult(interp, not_avail, TCL_STATIC); return TCL_ERROR;}
+      if(argc < 3) {
+        Tcl_SetResult(interp, "xschem instance_number 1 additional argument", TCL_STATIC); 
+        return TCL_ERROR;
+      }   
+      if((i = get_instance(argv[2])) < 0 ) {
+        Tcl_SetResult(interp, "xschem instance_number: instance not found", TCL_STATIC);
+        return TCL_ERROR;
+      }
+
+      if(argc > 3) {
+        unselect_all(0);
+        select_element(i, SELECTED, 1, 1);
+        rebuild_selected_array();
+        i = atoi(argv[3]);
+        change_elem_order(i);
+        draw();
+      }
+      Tcl_SetResult(interp, my_itoa(i), TCL_VOLATILE);
+    }
+
     /* instance_pin_coord inst attr value
      *   Return the name and coordinates of pin with 
      *   attribute 'attr' set to 'value' of instance 'inst'