My songs don't stop at the end of the song...keeps on going. How do I fix that?

Ah yes, that used to bug me. Not sure if it was available in Sonar 8.5 (but i don't think it was). I do know it's available in the new versions of Sonar. There's a new "options" pull down menu, and you just check the option "Stop At Project End" (See image)
 

"Stop at Project End" does not solve the problem of an errant automation node or MIDI event. Unless a loop is defined, SONAR always plays until the last bit of data is processed. Unexpected data is usually the cause of a runaway project. One method to remove the data is move the Now time indicator to the expected end of the project and select everything from that point to the end and delete it.

scook
"Stop at Project End" does not solve the problem of an errant automation node or MIDI event. Unless a loop is defined, SONAR always plays until the last bit of data is processed. Unexpected data is usually the cause of a runaway project. One method to remove the data is move the Now time indicator to the expected end of the project and select everything from that point to the end and delete it.

In my experience using 8.5 and older: No far-away-data is needed to make the Project play back forever. It just happens sometimes for a reason I've not been able to find. I've checked it a million times. Or is there the kind of data that can not be seen in the event list nor visually on the track? I've tried deleting seemingly empty portions as well, though. However, in my case this only occurs on playback. Exporting has always worked flawlessly.
 
I still haven't had time to double check and confirm my most recent clue: It seemed to me that when I archived a track, the Project forgot its end point.

In my experience there is always something causing the project to play beyond what you think is "the end"
 
This list isn't exhaustive, but pretty close:
 
Tempo changes
Meter/key changes
Automation nodes
Thin "slivers" of data  - could be audio or midi, though these will show up in the event list
Controller data
 
You need to check all of the above, not just for the visible tracks, check it on hidden tracks, archived tracks, ditto for busses.
 
Hit ctrl + end to find out where Sonar reckons the project ends

I have a few projects which sometimes do stop at the end and other times don't.
You get used to it.

I usually want to specify exactly where an export should end, regardless of where SONAR thinks it ends. Consequently, I always place Start and End markers in every project, as the first and last markers. Then I can consistently export exactly the same duration every time, by simply selecting the region between those two markers. This obviates the need for post-export trimming and eliminates unexpectedly chopped-off reverb tails.
 
A side-benefit of this practice is never having to depend on SONAR's interpretation of where the project ends.

I haven't been on here in very long time. Thanks for the help. I recognize bitflipper ....I use 8.5 on my live gig only. My philosophy is if it ain't broke don't fix it! I just had to get a new laptop and just installed 8.5 ....so I don't have to go through 300 songs to set it up for X3. I'm already having to change some plugins that don't work in Win 7. Real pain! I just talked to tech support and they can't help me at all....because they only support X 3. I have a gig tomorrow and I don't know what to do other than ask you guys for help. All the songs are all audio, no midi. I've had this happen before, but it's been too long ago to remember what they told me. I also have another problem with getting the no output assigned to the Master buss, which pops up everytime my playlist go to the next song. I use 3 separate stereo outputs for my live stuff...sending them to a line mixer that I can control quickly live. I use a master buss set to no output, then group it to group A and the group the input trim to my 3 busses and use the master as simply a fader..to pull the mix up or down. The tech guys always helped me go into the ini file and change something , but I can't remember what it is. I know i should have wrote it down....but I didn't. Hopefully you guys can help as it is the only way I will get it fixed.

Bitflipper...I tried putting an end marker at the end ....but it keeps on going. Got it...fixed it in the Global page ..stop song at end wasn't check. Duh
 
 

These songs have not changed in years...so why do they work on my old laptop and not this one. I avoided using envelopes and i don't use midi, it's just audio. Frustrating 
Well I had luck with going into the Global and checking off stop project at the end!!! Thanks  Why isn't that checked off to start with. Why would you want the song to never end??
 
Now I need to fix this master buss issue