VMS Help DSR, DSR Commands, .FLAGS SUBINDEX, Default  *Conan The Librarian (sorry for the slow response - running on an old VAX)

    .FLAGS SUBINDEX - Recognition of the Subindex flag character (>)
    within .INDEX or .ENTRY commands is turned on. The Subindex flag
    character is always taken as normal text outside an .INDEX or
    .ENTRY command.