VMS Help CC, Run-time functions, sscanf, Optional character  *Conan The Librarian (sorry for the slow response - running on an old VAX)

  *            Assignment-suppressing character.

  field width Nonzero decimal integer that specifies the maximum
              field width.

  h, l, or L  Precede a conversion specifier of d, i, or n with an h
              if the corresponding argument is a pointer to short int
              rather than a pointer to int, or with an l (lowercase
              ell) if it is a pointer to long int.

              Similarly, precede a conversion specifier of o, u, or x
              with an h if the corresponding argument is a pointer to
              unsigned short int rather than a pointer to unsigned
              int, or with an l (lowercase ell) if it is a pointer to
              unsigned long int.

              Finally, precede a conversion specifier of e, f, or g
              with an l (lowercase ell) if the corresponding argument
              is a pointer to double rather than a pointer to float,
              or with an L if it is a pointer to long double.

              If an h, l, or L appears with any other conversion
              specifier, the behavior is undefined.