The filter files need to be directed to write to /home/vattobs/.mtnops/LOWER_FNAMES or UPPER_FNAMES.
Scott directed us to here:
I looked at how saveFNames is used. Anytime the lower or upper filter names are changed it writes the file. In fact, there are two files, one for each wheel. The file names are the lower and upper filter wheel text property names. Those are defined here. The name is the "LOWER_FNAMES" in the struct literal below.
static ITextVectorProperty lfnTP = { mydev, "LOWER_FNAMES", "Lower Filter Wheel Names", MAIN_GROUP , IP_RW, 0, IPS_IDLE, lfnT, NARRAY(lfnT), "", 0};