Ted Ashton responded to my post with:
>(snip)
> It seems I made the mistake of reading the manual.
>(snip)

As I read the manual, I continued to the examples:

  The following are examples of valid formal file designators:

  &file/lock.group.account:node.dest.level&

  &filename&

  &!myfile&

  &!afile/![FINFO("!afile",33)]&

  The following are examples of invalid formal file designators:

  "filename.group (missing delimiter ("))

  file.group" ( 'f' is used as delimiter, missing at end)

My personal experience is that going by the examples in a manual is
always better than going by the specific words.  My written English is
not great, and I know when I write manuals often my explanations are not
as good as an example.  This manual appears the same.  The explanation
may leave a lot to be desired, but the examples seem pretty clear.  They
say to me, "While there may be other ways to make this work, using
something like these examples will definitely work."

Glad you got it working,

lb