So, I have got a job where fully free format RPG is used (even the D-Specs are in free).
I am confused about the use of "*N" in various declarations. Like in data structures, procedure prototypes etc.
My general understanding is that it is used as some sort of a placeholder when declarations without a name is defined.
Can someone help in understanding this?
That's exactly right. *N indicates "no name". In free-form, you can't just omit the name completely the way you can in fixed-form, so *N is used as a place-holder. You use this for subfields, prototype-parameters, procedure interfaces, and unqualified data structures.