Hi all, When I vary pan on audio track via automation, the values only show left channel varying, and the sound's output on playback is static (annoyingly slightly to the left).   Same when I change the pan for track (in the track's panel that shows volume, gain, etc) - there is no audible shift in channel either.  Any thoughts?
 
Eric

What soundcard are you using?
 
Are you saying that a mono or a stereo signal does not move across the sound stage when you operate the pan control by some means?

Are you in offset mode?
http://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation?product=SONAR%20X2&language=3&help=Automation.13.html
 
Offset mode is confusing and can be accidentally engaged by hitting the O key on your keyboard. (This keyboard shortcut was changed in Sonar Platinum, but you have Sonar X3 in listed in your signature).
 
 

Yep. I've been told it's supposed to work that way. Just goes to show  that even a old timer like me that's been recording since the late 70's can learn something (new). Haha.
 
http://forum.cakewalk.com/Its-happened-again-Dagnabit-dead-pan-m2861011.aspx

This is most probably related to how your tracks are set up.
Are you sure that you are using a track pan envelope vs a clip pan envelope? They are two completely different things. 
 
Track pan envelopes affect the post effects bin pan. Clip pan affects the PRE effects bin pan.
Also another important parameter that affects pan is the track interleave setting in the track inspector. If you have that set to mono then it ignores pan envelopes on any clips by design. This is because the interleave value is setting the pre-effects bin interleave value (stereo/mono). If you set it to mono you are effectively telling SONAR to ignore clip pan envelopes so they will have no effect on the imaging. You should be using track pan envelopes in this case since those are applied post effects bin.
 
Interleave is a complex topic. Please refer to the signal flow diagram that shows where gain and pan is applied graphically.

Thanks all.  Based on what I'm seeing I think the problem may be simple.  I think this was recorded mono.  It's all outputting to one channel.  The output meter reflects nothing emanating from the right channel.  If I have this right - that this is the problem - that is, it was recorded mono (a long time ago - been working on this piece off and on for 2 years), 
1.  is that the problem
2.  is there a solution (I see reference to Channel Tools)
 
Thanks
 

If you recorded a mono instrument on a stereo track, it can't be panned.
Try Tracks>Bounce To Track(s) and select Split Mono.
That will give you 2 mono tracks, one with the audio and the other with nothing. Delete the nothing.

Can you show us a screen shot of your track? I think 57Gregy has probably got it right. Do you see audio data on one side but not the other? If so, you have a stereo track that was recorded in mono.

Do as 57Gregy suggests and let us know if that worked.

Ive just had a similar problem. My guitar tracks that were panned left and right that would stay there even if i put the pan control to the other side. Turns out I had panned them hard left and right in offset mode. The solution is to go to offset mode and make sure they are panned centrally. Going back to normal mode your panning should now work as expected.