Yes, good point...that would be an alternate way to do it. The only real advantage of using Fit to Time is if you spewed out a long MIDI file and it's off the edge of the screen, or not a specific number of measures. You can use Time as the format and just double it.

That makes my head explode. Try a couple approaches and let us know what works!

Week 128: My New BFF Shortcut
 
This tip has a story behind it because it's a revision of the original, with  info contributed by scook. But before getting into the details, let's set the stage.
 
We all have our favorite shortcuts, like the magic D shortcut to teleport you from track-land to console-land, and N to turn snap on and off. I also have custom shortcuts that call up different snap values—very handy.
 
Lately, I’ve found another really useful shortcut. This is one of those “maybe everyone knows about it and I’m just late to the party” things, but if not, I think you’ll find this week’s tip extremely helpful.
 
In the Track View options menu, you can choose two different Now time rewind behaviors. If “On Stop, Rewind to Now Marker” is checked, when you stop the transport the Now time will return to where you started playback. When in Track View, it’s easy to know you’re in this mode because the Now time line moves, but the “play head” stays where the Now time started. Nice and obvious.
 

 
If “On Stop, Rewind to Now Marker” is unchecked, upon stopping the transport the Now time stays where you stopped. In this mode, the Now time head travels along with the Now time line, again making it easy to know which mode you’re in.
 
When editing a track, I’ll often want the rewind option checked so I can listen, make some edits, then go back to where playback started and audition the edits. But after making those edits, I then want to play through to the next section and upon encountering something that needs a fix, have the Now time stop there instead of rewinding. So I went to the Key Bindings in preferences, didn't see a shortcut assignment, and decided to create one.
 
Sub-tip: I keep forgetting that you have to choose the Key to see what it's assigned to, not on the function to see which key controls it.
 
I set up a Key Binding where Alt+Space Bar checks or unchecks this mode because of the convenience of having the Alt key next to the spacebar...
 

 
...and then I posted the tip. But after posting, scook pointed out that a factory binding already existed (Ctrl+W) and that another option was leaving Rewind to Now Time permanently enabled, and using Ctrl+spacebar to leave the Now time where you stopped. (If you want to find more fun stuff, SquireBum added that these shortcuts are documented in the Transport shortcuts section of the Help>Keyboard Shortcuts menu.)
 
I figured that I should just delete the tip since it really didn't offer anything new, but realized maybe not everyone knows about this option, and what it does. So it was at least worth mentioning.
 
But then I tried the alternate methods, and liked the Alt+spacebar option better because of the ergonomics. Specifically, I find Ctrl+W to be a physically awkward keyboard shortcut. I suppose it's okay if you don't need to use it much, but when you're enabling/disabling often, it's distracting.
 
Spacebar with Ctrl+spacebar is much better. However, there were still a few aspects I didn't like. When editing I'm doing spacebar-intensive stuff, so having an Alt key on either side of the spacebar is super-convenient. Being left-handed I can toggle the Alt key to the left of the spacebar with my pinky (righties can toggle the Alt key to the right of the spacebar), and work the spacebar with my index finger. That way I don't have to move my hand from the space bar. 
 
Also while it may seem like a small thing, I use the QWERTY keyboard and shortcuts a lot. With RSI issues the fewer keys I need to hit, and the more I can keep my hand from having to contort, the better. Also, I prefer doing as much as possible by feel instead of having to look at the keyboard so I can keep focused on the screen (which is why I'm getting more and more into a touchscreen laid out like a mixer panel, but that's another story). 
 
And stopping at the desired new stop point with Ctrl+spacebar goes against 30 years of muscle memory with "press space bar to play, press again to stop" because the Ctrl key has to be pressed before the spacebar and held while you press the spacebar. Using the Alt key, my index finger has a big target in the middle of the spacebar; although I could re-train myself to anchor my pinky on the Ctrl key, then my index finger has to hit a smaller zone on the left side of the spacebar. Also unlike Ctrl+spacebar, Alt+spacebar allows changing the mode while the transport is running, so as soon as I get past my edits, I can hit Alt+Spacebar (the transport doesn't stop) and stop at any time after that just by hitting the spacebar.
 
I almost didn't write the next aspect I like because it seems silly, but when using Ctrl+spacebar, you don't see the play head move along with the now time when Rewind to Now Time is deselected. With Alt+spacebar, or using Ctrl+W, you do. To me, the visual confirmation that I've moved out of editing mode and am now playing forward to the next section underscores that I'm making progress. I know, I know...it's silly. But once you get used to seeing the play head move or not seeing the play head move, you kind of expect it.
 
So try the various options to determine which one you like best. Meanwhile, I'm sticking with Alt+Spacebar because it's kinder on my hands and more ergonomic. If that wasn't an option, I'd use Spacebar+Ctrl spacebar. I would not use Ctrl+W. And for those people who hate keyboard shortcuts, you can always choose from the Options menu.

I wish more guys treated their DAWs as instruments and learned them like you guys. Especially Anderson and scook.
Thanks for the help in rising above the basic knowledge.

I like W and ctrl+W because I use W as return to zero. I have for so long I can't remember another way except with a hardware controller. Using ctrl to toggle the key's behavior just makes sense to me.

Alt-spacebar seems like a good replacement for ctrl-spacebar. Changing modes for what the spacebar means is more "state" to keep in mind.

gswitz
I like W and ctrl+W because I use W as return to zero. I have for so long I can't remember another way except with a hardware controller. Using ctrl to toggle the key's behavior just makes sense to me.

...and that to me is one of SONAR's strong points: there are often several ways to accomplish the same function, so you can use what works best for you. It's really a revelation for me to look over the shoulders of SONAR users and realize they all use the program in completely different ways, with completely different workflows. 

Thanks, for tip 
 
Id raised this point a few months back when loudly yelling profanities at Sonar for not knowing when I wanted to stop/rewind and when I wanted to pause/continue was disturbing the wife, LOL, I'm trying to keep these to a loud dohhhhhh!
(I guess the Bakers aren't developing mind reading artificial intelligence yet?, or electrodes to attach to my head?). 
 
I knew about the ctrl space thing, and reversing it by menu option, the problem being forgetting last selected menu option, and/or holding ctrl key, at a given moment, as I believe Craig also suffered from. I had gotten some different options/answers at the time, like the ctrl W thing. Ill try the alt thing to see if I can get used to that, as I also find jumping to Ctrl W somewhat awkward on the fly, but neither seem to meet my desire, (which may be reading my mind, LOL), perhaps a control device is what I may need, but this may not fully meet desires either. 
 
Alternatively, I have been trying to minimize blood pressure and yelling profanities by looping around the section I'm editing so at least W will toggle between start of looped section, or start of project, as one way or the other if you hit space bar twice inadvertently you jump to start of project.
 
Question: Can the control bar previous marker function be assigned to 1 shortcut key? (i.e., not the current 3 Ctrl/Shift/Page down, which is really awkward on the fly), this could help my anger issues, allowing play/pause/continue with space bar, or as set, and quickly jumping back to a marker set at beginning of edit section with the assigned key, I'm thinking "X" key could be convenient, (and aim assist put elsewhere), I guess then at some point you may be left cleaning up a lot of unwanted markers. 
 
Otherwise, as a possible feature it would be nice if shortcut/bindings could also recognize a mouse, like you can in a video game, so you could assign some of the multiple mouse buttons to some of these shortcut functions, as most all single keyboard keys are already assigned to a shortcut (except O and U)?
 
Lastly I'm keeping a long piece of 4" x 4" acoustic foam close by for venting frustration. LOL.     
 
Cheers, thanks again for tip.
 
PS, I had tried using a device called a ShuttlePro V2, (like a large mouse with 15 assignable buttons and a shuttle/jog wheel}, which claimed to work with Sonar, and many other software's but couldn't seem to assign these functions to it either.      
 

Thanks Craig - glad to see you. 
Nice tip. I'm a dreadful guitarist (as a keyboard player I usually get by with one of several guitar libraries that serve my needs via MIDI). But this looks intriguing. Question - what is the MIDI input type (USB, 5 Pin ?).
 

Thanks Craig

Anderton

Brando
No explanation needed. You're insanely busy as always. Enjoy (the last day of) NAMM.

I will! And I nailed down something extremely cool for Cakewalk that should surface in a a couple months.

Nice! Looking forwards to whatever it might be.
All the best.

Also note that Jamstik sends MIDI over BTLE.  Microsoft had recently announced we were working on Windows 10 support of BTLE.
https://blogs.windows.com/buildingapps/2016/09/21/midi-enhancements-in-windows-10/#fCloY7DwxelBEgPs.97
 
Keith