def METHOD_NAME(self, line):
    # skip the initial +el
    s = line.split("+el:")
    s = re.split("[;,]", s[1])
    if len(s) != 2:
        gate.fatal(
            f"Error while reading the line: {line} \n"
            f'Expected "name=" ; "n=" or "f="'
        )
    # read the name
    elname = gate.read_tag(s[0], "name")
    if elname == "auto":
        elname = self.name
    if not elname:
        gate.fatal(
            f"Error reading line {line} \n during the elements of material {self.name}"
        )
    # read f or n, put the other one to 'None'
    f = None
    n = gate.read_tag(s[1], "n")
    if not n:
        f = float(gate.read_tag(s[1], "f"))
    else:
        n = int(n)
    e = Box({"name": elname, "n": n, "f": f, "type": "element"})
    return e