VMS Help RENAME, Parameters  *Conan The Librarian (sorry for the slow response - running on an old VAX)

 input-filespec[,...]

    Specifies the name of one or more files whose specifications are
    to be changed. The asterisk (*) and the percent sign (%) wildcard
    characters are allowed in the directory specification, file name,
    file type, or version number fields of the file specification.
    When wildcard characters are used, all files whose specifications
    satisfy the wildcard fields are renamed.

 output-filespec

    Provides the new file specification to be applied to the input
    file. The RENAME command uses the device, directory, file name,
    and file type of the input file as defaults for fields in the
    output file that are either unspecified, or are indicated by
    the asterisk (*)  and the percent sign (%) wildcard characters.
    Wildcard characters in corresponding fields of the input and
    output file specification result in multiple rename operations.
    The RENAME command supplies output file version numbers in the
    following ways:

    o  If the output file specification contains an explicit version
       number, that version number is used.

    o  If the output file specification contains an asterisk (*)  or
       a percent sign (%)  wildcard character as the version number,
       the version number of the input file is used.

    o  If the input file specification contains an asterisk (*)  or
       a percent sign (%)  wildcard character as the version number,
       the version number of each input file names a corresponding
       output file.

    o  If no file exists with the same file name and type as the
       output file, the new file is assigned a version number of 1.

    o  If a file already exists with the same file name and type
       as the output file, the next higher version number is used
       (unless the /NONEWVERSION qualifier is specified).