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I just noticed your example

1 NAME John* William /DOE/
2 GIVN John* William
2 SURN DOE

Perhaps this is just an example, but I would never bother with the asterisk if the “usually known by” name is the first given name. That is the normal use of the name, so needs no additional emphasis, in my opinion. I only emphasize where it is not the normally expected use.

I apply the same logic to, for example, the use of the PEDI sub tag to indicate “birth” name (2 PEDI birth). I think everyone reading the page will assume it is the birth name unless told otherwise, so no emphasis required.
“2 PEDI adopted” is good and useful, “2 PEDI birth” is neither and just clutters the display unnecessarily.

Nigel
My personal kiwitrees site is www.our-families.info