sub parseNextElement
{
     my ($input_line, @extra_stuff) = @_;
     if (!defined $input_line)          { $input_line = ''; }
     if (!defined $extra_stuff[0]) { @extra_stuff = (); }

     # Initialize return elements
     my $next_element = '';
     my $remaining_line = '';

     # Check if first element is parentheses-encapsulated
     if ($input_line =~ /^\s*\(/)
     {
          # First element looks like it has parenthetically-encapsulated sub-elements
          ($next_element, $remaining_line) = split /\)/, $input_line, 2;

          # This chops off the closing parenthesis from that first element, so put it back
          $next_element .= ')';

          # It also leaves the comma on the remaining line, so remove it
          # WARNING:  Making lots of assumptions here about proper formatting
          $remaining_line =~ s/^\s*\,//;
     }
     else
     {
          # First element is a solitary value
          ($next_element, $remaining_line) = split /\,/, $input_line, 2;
     }

     return ($next_element, $remaining_line);
}