AnthonyMangos
Thanks for trying to help me.  I may seem ungrateful, but I genuinely mean that.   

I (and probably most here) get it. The folks here are always happy to help. We just get a little cranky because there are a lot of folks who just pop in to troll then disappear. You're here now and your friend explained what's up so keep at 'er and I'm sure you'll be up and running soon enough.
 
It's just the installation and initial learning curve that's gonna be annoying.

Beepster

sharke
I would like to know where the manual is installed. I know there is one because I have the X3 manual which I moved to my Google Drive folder so I could read it on my phone. But since then I've done a full wipe & reinstall of Sonar and for the life of me I can't find where they put the manual. I've looked all over my system drive folders and also in my documents folder but no dice. 

Go to your C drive > Program Files > Cakewalk > Sonar Platinum (or whatever version you want/have installed) and you'll see the Sonar Reference PDF in the list (if you installed the Cake Content stuff).
 
Thank scook for that info. He told me where it was a couple months ago.
 
Cheers.

Ha it's always the last place you look....I usually find manuals in my documents folder, I wasn't expecting it to be right there with the Sonar executable. 

sharke
 
Ha it's always the last place you look....I usually find manuals in my documents folder, I wasn't expecting it to be right there with the Sonar executable. 

It is kind of a strange place to a dum dum like me but I guess maybe it needs to be there so it can pop up within the program... or something like that. Generally the Program Files area is a strange and scary place I avoid lest I screw something up. lol

Scook, I installed Command Center and the local documentation was installed.
 
I found the manual/tutorial - you have to open the program go to edit/preferences/advanced/ check always use local help.
My friend actually sent me an e-mail a week or so ago that I forgot about.  I would never have gone to edit to get a tutorial or manual.  Scook's mention of local help jogged my memory. 

Now can people understand how (1) that is not really intuitive and (2) a new user might never get there on their own?  You have to open the program and go through a few menus/settings to get to the documentation that tells you how to use it!!!  That might be a good screen to show during the download process.  It's not visible as a separable file in the folders.  You think they might sell a few more copies if stuff like that was clear.
 
It would have at least delayed my rant on here a bit while I read it. 
 
Beepster I created an account with XLN and downloaded their stuff but it would not accept the SN I got with Cakewalk.

Beepster

sharke
 
Ha it's always the last place you look....I usually find manuals in my documents folder, I wasn't expecting it to be right there with the Sonar executable. 

It is kind of a strange place to a dum dum like me but I guess maybe it needs to be there so it can pop up within the program... or something like that. Generally the Program Files area is a strange and scary place I avoid lest I screw something up. lol

My guess is Cakewalk elected to drop the pdfs next to the local chm which is almost always in the same folder and the exe. Makes the installer simpler to create.

Now they accepted my serial number and I've installed the Addictive drums and the three packs that I get.  Don't ask me.  I copied the serial number last night too.   I routed the 64 bit path to my desktop and then it installed.

Now can I change the title to 'Like Sonar Professional

AnthonyMangos
I found the manual/tutorial - you have to open the program go to edit/preferences/advanced/ check always use local help.
My friend actually sent me an e-mail a week or so ago that I forgot about.  I would never have gone to edit to get a tutorial or manual.  Scook's mention of local help jogged my memory. 

This is still not the pdf. What you are doing is forcing SONAR to ignore the internet connection and use the local Windows style help file. The pdf should be where the SONAR.chm (the file you are forcing SONAR to use instead of the server based web pages) and exe reside. Other than the reader, the content of the chm and the web are the same, with the possible exception the web may be slightly more current. The pdf on the hand is a snapshot of the help which happened almost a year ago. Just like every version of SONAR for the last 5 years or so. If the pdfs are not installed, email support.

AnthonyMangos
Now can I change the title to 'Like Sonar Professional

You can if you want. Edit the initial post and change the subject line.

AnthonyMangos
Beepster I created an account with XLN and downloaded their stuff but it would not accept the SN I got with Cakewalk.

I think there have been occasional problems with the s/n's when being registered. Again something to contact XLN about (and maybe Cakewalk as well at the same time).
 
In the meantime I'm going to suggest a couple things that are known to sometimes cause these issues.
 
1) Make sure, if you haven't, that you try manually typing the s/n or reg numbers instead of copying and pasting. Some registration stuff has anti pirating features that won't accept a copy/paste but manually typing it in makes it work.
 
2) Pay close attention to captilization of any letters in the codes. That generally has an affect on whether a code is accepted
 
3) In my experience some reg schemes want you to include spaces and dashes shown in the code. Other times they don't. Roll of the dice and I forget what XLN wants.
 
4) If it's a "box" system or weird autofill/tab thing where there are multiple boxes for segments of the code pay attention that the right numbers are going in the correct box (these things all seem to be different... it's annoying).
 
5) Again if you don't have Internet Explorer set as your default browser and have the correct internet security settings the XLN installer simply will not work. I have had to temporarily switch my browser from Firefox to XLN any time I snag something from their site. Their installer DEMANDS it... which I dislike very much.
 
Anyway you may know some or all of that. It's been too long since I've dealt with XLN so I don't recall exactly what all I had to do but EVERY time I've gotten something from them (even when it was just a demo years ago) I had to contact support. Super complex and scattered for no apparent reason.
 
If you think Cake's scheme is convoluted all I can say is take a deep breath/count to ten/drink some chamomile tea before trying to sort out the XLN reg/download/install stuff.
 
Their support really is good though. I think they might even offer remote service if need be.
 
Cheers.