If you want DEC DATATRIEVE to prompt you for a value, use a
       prompting value expression. This feature is especially useful
       in a procedure because it allows you to use a different value
       each time you invoke the procedure. DEC DATATRIEVE recognizes two
       types of prompting expressions: the *.prompt and the **.prompt.

       The *.prompt value expression has the following format:

       *."prompt-name"

       The prompt name is a character string literal. If the prompt name
       contains no blanks and conforms to the rules for DEC DATATRIEVE
       names, you do not have to enclose the literal in quotation marks.
       If the prompt name contains blanks or does not conform to those
       rules, you must enclose it in quotation marks.