Apply Effects - again

I know there are numerous threads about apply effects, but I am experienced at doing this and suddenly it is not working for me.  Using 32-bit SPLAT, because I use MusicLab's SlicyDrummer which is a MIDI plugin not supported in 64-bit Sonar and NOT a VST that can be wrapped.  It "plays" a drum loop throughout a project.  For more than 10 years, I've started with the plugin to have a drum background while I'm putting a song together, then while on the track, hit Process/Apply Effect/MIDI Effects.  This puts (or used to put) MIDI notes into the track, repeating the looped notes through to the end.  Then I could edit the drum MIDI track (or not), and eliminate the plugin.
 
Now, with SlicyDrummer active in my MIDI track, I highlight the track and try to do what I have done literally hundreds of times, and the option to apply MIDI effects is greyed out. Weirdly, if I add a few MIDI notes to the track, it is no longer greyed out, but hitting Process/Apply Effect/MIDI Effects does nothing.  Maybe it got broken in Sonar?  Help!  I really want to do this - I'm trying to migrate to 64-bit Sonar but my old projects will be drumless unless I can make it work again.

You really are missing out on a lot by limiting yourself to 32 bit. Drum tracks are much easier to create than your method. I would recommend you learn a new approach and move on.  Session drummer and others also have many loops built in that will play same as you have been doing so lots of 64 bit options. 
Here I give clear instructions on how to make a drum pattern in PVR and use Groove looping to drag it out. 
Go to part II for instructions. 
http://www.cactusmusic.ca/Sonarmidi.htm
 

Have you tried AIR Strike 2 ?
 
I quite often use this for jamming along to as it is so easy to use.
 
Once I've got some music down, I tend to switch to a combination of playing myself though and electronic kit and Jamstix, running through Addictive Drums 2. But AIR Strike 2 is fantastic for getting started.
 
M.

Air Strike 2 is cool, but very complicated to set up with GM. 
Session drummer is included free with the older Sonars, don't you have that? 
And even AD2  plays GM if set to do so, no reason your older files shouldn't  play any of the newer drum VST's. 
 
If your old projects contain the midi data that is all you need to play a modern drum VST.