def get_item(where, key, defaultvalue=None):
    """
    Finds the key in the dict. The key can be made up of multiple pieces seperated with a period.

    :param where: dict to search
    :param key: multiple keywords combined with a period
    :param defaultvalue: if the key is not found return this value
    :return: either the defaultvalue or the value found
    """
    x = where
    for k in key.split("."):
        if k in x:
            x = x[k]
        else:
            return defaultvalue
    return x