That's exactly what it tells you.

RSMCGUITAR
That's exactly what it tells you.

I don't know what that means.

It's the tool that is "Smart" and it's up to the rest of us to get familiar with it. The docs provide the details.
 
It is easier to find the answer to "Can I use the smart tool to do ...?" than to find the answer to "Why is this so frustrating?", both here and in the docs.
 
I see you work on a laptop. Trust me you will love it. I use a trackball on a laptop 99% of the time.
 
Overcome,
 
AMK

RSMCGUITAR
Have you considered typing "smart tool" in help?

There is an incredibly detailed description on how to use the smart tool in any situation, including all modifiers.

I put the link in my very first post
https://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation?product=SONAR%20X3&language=3&help=Tools.01.html
 
I understand Tim's point. you can only take so much out of reading a document / help file / help tool.
I can only speak for myself but I have a hard time following documented help. im sure its got to do with my dyslexia.
which, anyone who has ever read my posts..they can verify that.

Thanks for the link,,, Again Chuck..

the smart tool is simply dumb, no getting around it; but you'll gradually learn to avoid some of the terrible things it can do to you and live with two clicks or key presses where you'd think one would be sufficient. 

williamcopper
the smart tool is simply dumb, no getting around it; but you'll gradually learn to avoid some of the terrible things it can do to you and live with two clicks or key presses where you'd think one would be sufficient. 

The Smart Tool is just a combination of different tools, without the need to switch between them.
 
How can such a tool be dumb? Because all the combined tools are dumb, too?
Sure, it can't read your mind but it's not that difficult to learn how it works.
 
For me, it's a timesaver and I'm glad about having the option to use it.
 
 

Klaus
 
The Smart Tool is just a combination of different tools, without the need to switch between them.
 
How can such a tool be dumb? Because all the combined tools are dumb, too?
Sure, it can't read your mind but it's not that difficult to learn how it works.
 
For me, it's a timesaver and I'm glad about having the option to use it.

I totally agree.
If you can't figure it out by reading this article: https://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation?product=SONAR%20X3&language=3&help=Tools.04.html I would find it hard to believe you could work with a program as complicated as Sonar.

Right. The Smart Tool is not dumb. It works very well indeed. However it may take a little getting use to. 
 
I said it works with hot spots. This is your clue to how it works. Where you place it on a track or in the PRV determines what tool it will be. If one is uncomfortable with that use the individual tools from the HUD.
 
The smart tool was/is meant to speed up your work by eliminating the need to switch tools. One tip, if the track is too small in height it may make finding the hot spot difficult. Same applies to the notes in the PRV.
Setting things up to accommodate the hot spots will make using the smart tool much easier.        

Yes, sure, it works with hot spots.   But is it really that "smart" to adjust your work flow and visual conception of a project solely because getting the hot spots clickable requires zooming to a different level?   Sorry, don't think so, and I'm pretty familiar with all the various tools and hot spots by now.  
 
Is it that smart that an accurate right click on a note deletes it and an inaccurate click with a slight tremor selects it? 
 
It it that smart that a double click on a note, done exactly in the right place, opens up its properties, but if you miss a little bit you've created an unwanted note?   You've also, unintentionally, changed the Now Time.    Omg, where was I?  What was I working on?  Hmm...
 
Is it that smart that a single click in the PRV sets the now time (REALLLY REAALY WISH IT WEREN'T SO .. but anyway) but a click with a slight muscle movement makes a 'drawn' note?   And that drawn note does NOT change the Now Time ... so you are likely to pop back to a completely different area of the project next. 
 
All of it means, like so much else in Sonar, your attention is continually required to make sure that you haven't done something unintentional.