I'm using X3 Pro (upgrading to Platinum after this song).  I'm so confused wrt Automation...
 
1) I take an automation snapshot of a volume slider.  I go to track view and set the edit filter to volume.  I don't see any nodes.  Shouldn't taking a snapshot create a node?
 
2) I use the triangle draw tool to create lots of nodes in the volume envelope.  I play the track.  The volume changes, but the volume slider doesn't.  I want the volume sliders to follow the envelope and vice versa...
 
3) I turn off the Read Automation button.  The track plays back ignoring the volume envelope.  Rather it plays at whatever the volume slider is set at.  (This actually makes sense...)
 
So it appears to me that snapshots, volume envelopes, and the volume faders are completely independent.  Is it really so?  What is the order of precedence?  Can I get all three to play well together? 
 
(Which to me would be -
1) sliders follow envelopes
2) snapshots add nodes (probably two) to envelopes )
 
Thanks!
 

They should not be independent.  When I take a snapshot of a control I do see a node created in the associated automation lane.  If I draw automation in the track volume lane, or in the track view, I see the fader moving with the changes.
 
You should be able to see the envelope over the tracks waveform, or midi data, when all the lanes are collapsed. If you hover your mouse over a node it should tell you the parameter that the envelope is assigned to.
 
Make sure that automation read is on, make sure the envelope you are working with is assigned to the correct control.
 
That's all I can think of.

automation is one of the most in depth features in any DAW.
it must be studied, learned and mastered. though mastering the art of automation is not critical,
a basic understanding of the mechanics helps.
 
videos. indulge in the fruits of YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfdJFl5PJ6Q
 
right click a fader, a knob. make sure "Automation Read enabled".
if not then the printed automation is there but its turned off.

after watching the SWA tutorials and trying a bunch of examples, it's clearer to me now.
 
I think perhaps I fat fingered the O key, enabling offset mode.  Plus I think perhaps the way Sonar removes volume envelopes if I don't actually make an edit change might have been confusing me.  And for sure the Ctrl key overloads for quick groups and copy has bit me a few times.  (Like I want to copy something to one track but I end up making changes to all tracks instead...) 
 
At any rate, I'm (slightly) less confused... :-)
 
Cheers!
 

It is possible to defeat the Offset mode shortcut. With a project open

1. go to Preferences > Customization > Keyboard Shortcuts,
2. click on O in the key list on the left
3. search for "do n" to bring the the "Do nothing" function in Global bindings
4. click the "Do Nothing" function
5. click the Bind button.