Although I use "Snap Grid" all the time for cutting and pasting, etc. when does "Smart Grid" come in handy.
 
Thanks,
 
Walt

In my experience it is a bright idea with no possible use; it's caught me a few times -- and caused a good deal of lost time -- by trying to be the default when I wasn't vigilant enough to turn it off.

This is what it is. 
"When Smart Grid is selected (the Snap to Grid button changes to ), the snap resolution is dynamically determined by the horizontal zoom level, and the M:B:T time rulers in the Clips pane and Piano Roll view are optimized to show relevant snap locations."
 
Basically designed to be useful if you zoom in and out often. 
 
Found in Cakewalk Doc:  https://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation?product=SONAR&language=3&help=ControlBar.04.html

williamcopper
In my experience it is a bright idea with no possible use; it's caught me a few times -- and caused a good deal of lost time -- by trying to be the default when I wasn't vigilant enough to turn it off.

 
IMO it's absurd to blame SONAR for "a good deal of lost time" when the reason for that lost time is user ignorance. Smart Grid is not a global default, and it will "try" to be the default only if you ask SONAR to make it a default. The status of Smart Grid on/off, in fact the status of Snap on/off overall and the current snap value, is saved on a per-project basis. If you turn off Smart Grid and save a project, it will open next time with Smart Grid turned off. Similarly, if you turn on Smart Grid and save a project, it will open next time with Smart Grid turned on. 
 
Furthermore, templates remember Smart Grid and Snap status as well. The only "vigilance" required is not telling SONAR to do something you don't want it to do.
 
Anyway, back to Wally G. To best understand how Smart Grid works and why it's useful, here's a simple experiment.
 
1. Enable Smart Grid (i.e., right-click in the Snap field and enable Smart Grid).
2. Hover the cursor within the timeline, just above the calibration numbers. The cursor will turn into a magnifying glass with a downward pointing arrow.
3. Observe the Snap field during the following step.
4. With the cursor still showing the magnifying glass, click and drag downward to zoom in. As you zoom in further, you'll see the snap value get smaller. Drag up to zoom out, and the snap value gets larger. (This happens regardless of what zoom method you use, this method just makes the changes really obvious.)
 
For me, this is invaluable when doing arranging-type editing. When I want to move clips around and am zoomed out, having the Smart Grid go automatically to whole measures makes it much easier to "aim" the clips and have them end up in the right place. However if I need to move something a 1/16th note, then I can zoom in and move with more precision (remember also there are mouse shortcuts for swapping zoom positions, so if needed, you can zoom in real close, jump back to overview, then zoom back in again without having to deal with adjusting zoom levels).
 
Smart Grid is available as a key binding so you can turn it on and off easily. Since N controls Snap on/off and Ctrl+Shift+N controls Swap Primary and Second Snap Settings, I assigned Alt+Shift+N to Smart Grid on/off.
 
 
 

Smart grid and I are quite compatible with each other.  I like it.
 
To vs By is the one that gets me from time to time

BobF
Smart grid and I are quite compatible with each other.  I like it.
 
To vs By is the one that gets me from time to time

 
...and for me, it's Snap to Zero Audio Crossings. Thankfully its status is saved with the project.

Anderton
....
Anyway, back to Wally G. To best understand how Smart Grid works and why it's useful, here's a simple experiment.
 
1. Enable Smart Grid (i.e., right-click in the Snap field and enable Smart Grid).
2. Hover the cursor within the timeline, just above the calibration numbers. The cursor will turn into a magnifying glass with a downward pointing arrow.
3. Observe the Snap field during the following step.
4. With the cursor still showing the magnifying glass, click and drag downward to zoom in. As you zoom in further, you'll see the snap value get smaller. Drag up to zoom out, and the snap value gets larger. (This happens regardless of what zoom method you use, this method just makes the changes really obvious.)
 
For me, this is invaluable when doing arranging-type editing. When I want to move clips around and am zoomed out, having the Smart Grid go automatically to whole measures makes it much easier to "aim" the clips and have them end up in the right place. However if I need to move something a 1/16th note, then I can zoom in and move with more precision (remember also there are mouse shortcuts for swapping zoom positions, so if needed, you can zoom in real close, jump back to overview, then zoom back in again without having to deal with adjusting zoom levels).
 
Smart Grid is available as a key binding so you can turn it on and off easily. Since N controls Snap on/off and Ctrl+Shift+N controls Swap Primary and Second Snap Settings, I assigned Alt+Shift+N to Smart Grid on/off.

 
I should have known that you would be the one with a full understanding of this feature and how to use it! 
 
Thanks Craig. I've put this in uSoft OneNote as a reference (among other Sonar Tid Bits)
 

WallyG
Thanks Craig. I've put this in uSoft OneNote as a reference (among other Sonar Tid Bits)

 
No problem, glad to help. But you won't need the reference much, using Smart Grid becomes second-nature very quickly. I highly recommend implementing the keyboard shortcut.
 

WallyG
...when does "Smart Grid" come in handy.

For me? Never.
 
I turn it off ALWAYS and I do kind of wish it weren't default.
 
However... if one were to train onseself to insert it into one's workflow it COULD be potentially useful for a quick/alternative snap res feature for whipping clips (and I think MIDI notes) around.
 
I'd imagine for loop based producers that deal with a lot of Groove Clips in the Track View it would be useful.
 
For me, my clips are generally recorded audio and remain where they are (as does any MIDI I create). I am zooming in and out FAR too much futzing with fades and crops and generally stick to a limited number of snap resolutions (or turn Snap off completely) for it to be a useful tool.
It just gets in my way.

williamcopper
and caused a good deal of lost time -- by trying to be the default when I wasn't vigilant enough to turn it off.

Absolutely impossible... unless you edit with your eyes closed.