Then you're a lucky person. But all other users must use the correct name of the function, which is "ent_for_name", not "ptr_for_name". That was a typo I think.

http://handbuch.3dgamestudio.net/aent_for_name.htm

Engine_getvar can also be found in the manual:

http://manual.3dgamestudio.net/engine_getvar.htm

Hope this helps.