Help! How to do these things in X1?

I thought the manual would have some clues on how to do this stuff, or that perhaps (being a programmer) I could use CAL or config files to make this stuff happen but I have got nowhere.  So far I am thinking that my best option would be changing to another DAW or going back to an earlier version of Sonar which would at least do at least provide some if this functionality.  Any useful suggestions would  be appreciated as I've invested a lot of money in Sonar/Cakewalk over the years.
 

• What is the command to send the cursor (now time) back to its last stationary position? For example if I accidentally moved the cursor or returned it to zero. Assuming there is no marker set for that position what is the fastest way to put it back where it was?
• Is there a command to rebuild layers and/or remove empty layers on all Tracks WITHOUT having to do this on each track individually.
• Is it possible to automatically remove the empty layers left after deleting the last clip in any layer - without having to select each relevant track do this manually? 
• Is it possible to have Sonar automatically create a fresh layer when pasting clips into tracks so that pasted clips never get hidden behind other clips when in layers view?
• Is there a way to make the select tool behave like the star tool when pointing at already selected items?
• How can Audiosnap transients be applied to a single clip on a track without affecting the other clips on a track?
• How do you apply a gain envelope to a single clip on a track without the other clips on a track being assigned gain envelopes also?
• How do you apply a pan envelope to a single clip on a track without the other clips on a track being assigned pan envelopes also?
• Is it possible to quickly invoke an automated jump in playback in the track view. Specifically can the loop markers be swapped around so that playback will skip over the selection instead of looping around it?
• Is there away to add a command to a marker so that playback will jump to another point instead of playing linearly?
• Is there a way to get all the buttons on the control bar to fit on a screen that's smaller than 1920px wide?
• Is there a way to make the record button dot change to red whenever there are tracks armed for recording (as in previous versions of Sonar)?
• Is it possible to remove the Audiosnap option from a track completely to prevent accidentally selecting that mode on a complex track? Is it possible to at least have a confirmation dialog asking if you're sure you want to invoke a potentially time consuming and file-bloating transient detection routine?
• How do you remove the file-bloat created by Audiosnap transient tables when they are not required... WITHOUT deleting or bouncing down the relevant tracks?
• When selecting a clip for splitting. Is it possible to set which side of the cursor will be selected after the split command? It always defaults to left side selected. Ideally just clicking to the right or using a modifier key would do the trick but I can't find any way to do this.
• Is there a way to make better use of the space on the track strip panels?  i.e. remove all irrelevant icons and empty space without hiding or removing any controls, I/O info or fx etc.
• How can I move the performance monitor off the control bar and make it smaller to save sceen space? (without turning it off)
• Is it possible to make pow-r dithering available in Sonar Studio X1?  My old Sonar Producer had this but its has disappeared in my copy of X1 Studio which is supposed to be an upgrade. (there's only rectangular and triangular)...  Tech support have stated that pow-r3 dithering should be there but I can't find it.

any help would be appreciated 

AV Man I was trying to answer your questions but there simply are too many.

Return to zero is w. But you can find answers to your questions for many of them by entering the topic in the help search function.

After you do that you can come back with a much more narrow list.

It might be best to make this multiple topics.  i think when you unload like this, it overwhelms people.  

None of these questions are answered in the online help or anywhere else I have looked.

I wasn't asking how to RTZ or  remove or hide useful elements from track panels.

If anybody can just answer one of the questions with a useful idea I'll be delighted, if not amazed.  Pick just one and have a go.

I am not psychic so I'm not always going to remember to set a marker immediately before I accidentally move the cursor!

Sorry beepster if you misinterpreted the track panel question. When I said "icon" I literally meant the icon . When you select no icon there is still an icon.. and lots of wasted space!

The Control Bar modules are not removable. They can be moved off screen though. Another will take its place. You can thus choose which ones are displayed.

The star tool is the Smart tool. Other tools can not be the Smart tool. There is a section in the manual that details how to access the tools but T will open up the tool menu.

Layers can be rebuilt from the TV menu Layers. TV is the Track View.

Again all this is well documented in both the manual and the help file.

Thank you John, you have answered point 2 to a degree.  You are right you can select multiple tracks and rebuild/remove empties using the TV layers menu. However you have to select all the required tracks first.

Re. Control Bar - I was basically asking how to see everything not remove stuff... which can be done anyway!

Re. Select Tool - The select tool is useful because it allows you to precisely click-select events without fear of accidentally moving them, however, once selected the tool serves no purpose for that event. It would make sense for it to assume new capabilities i.e. become a smart tool, instead of necessitating a tool change.

----

e.Blue...

Selecting Clip Automation causes ALL the clips on a track to take on envelopes and the data for each one is stored in your project file even if it is a straight zero line.

I can't count the number of times I have wished for the ability to jump over a section easily. This is probably because I used Cubase many years ago and you could swap the loop markers around so that playback would jump forward to the other loop marker instead of back to it.... Example use... to see what something would sound like if you took a section out, and precisely defining the start and end points for the proposed surgery. 

John, I'm getting the vibe from you that you are not prepared to consider the shortcomings of the software as being such.  You have reinvented my questions to fit your own narrow-minded agenda which for some reason seems to be to defend this latest version of Sonar from all forms of criticism.  In reality I am highlighting the various issues which have plagued my attempts to use X1 in a productive manner. I am looking for answers/solutions and if not available I hope to advance the quality of the software, primarily because I have invested so much in Cakewalk and Sonar both money and time. Currently I am more productive using Sonar 5 which is not perfect by a long stretch but some of its better features have gone in X1, and in exchange, for my needs little if any useful functionality has been added. If Sonar can't provide the productivity/workflow enhancements that I, and probably countless others would find useful if not indispensable then it will fall flat in the face of the competition who I'm sure will rise to the challenge if they haven't done so already.

Re. Control Bar.... I asked ...

Is there a way to get all the buttons on the control bar to fit on a screen that's smaller than 1920px wide? I also mentioned the CB regarding the performance monitor. It is big and uses up space on the CB.  I am wondering if there's a way to still see it but have it much smaller and preferably located elsewhere.

Also getting upset at us about it is pretty silly. We didn't write the software. We just use it and it seems most here like how it works. I haven't dug too deep into it but I think it's pretty damned cool so far. Therefore Cakewalk have done their job.

Well I'm guessing some of the things you are asking are doable while others are not but Cake tech support would probably be better suited to answer your questions. IIRC you are the same fellow who was upset a while back and we chatted a bit about the same stuff (I can't recall specifically though). I think in that conversation we discussed you maybe rolling back to your old version. A pain? Certainly but if the older version did what you want then that's what you should work with. I think CW is pretty damned cheap though so you kind of have to roll with what you get. I mean I bought a Pacifica 112 a while back. It's an absolutely great guitar but is it a vintage Strat? No. Nor should I expect it to be. And THAT analogy I think isn't even a good one because I have a feeling X1 does indeed give the more expensive platforms a run for their money. Knowaddimean? I really hope you aren't just trolling us.

That would be a shame. I guess I kind of hoped this forum would be immune from that type of thing seeing as how it's so product specific but perhaps not. I'm still thinking just a user who's upset at the changes in the new version. Happens all the time.

"Happens all the time. "

I wonder why!

I'll answer one - actually 2:

you can't put an envelope on a single clip w/o also putting it on the others.

Can I ask why you would want to do that when you can just ignore the other clips? 

@