If you mark the timeline with the length of the song (when you bounce), you should not get that empty part at the end. It will not remove the dotted automation line, but will bounce only the length you have selected.

A dotted section of an envelope does not contribute to length of project.
 
Something else is causing it.
 
Check for data in hidden / archived tracks, tempo changes, meter/key changes, markers etc. Also check your busses for similar events.
 
There is ALWAYS something causing the project to play longer than expected.
 
 

Regardless of all the methods currently available. I agree there should be something simple to create an "END" to a song.
 
A menu item that allows you to put in the end of a song in either time or measure/beat that truncates everything at whatever point you put in wold be great. 
 
gabo

Check the event view for MIDI events that are located after where you think the end should be. Sometimes isolated MIDI CC or other events hang around and because their's no note to go with them they can be hard to spot in the track or piano roll views.

Yea, this is one of those frustrating aspects of SONAR - although every piece of software seems to have these frustrations.  I don't worry about it anymore and just highlight the length when I bounce/export.
 
@

Some possible strategies:
 
To find the offending event/clip/node, hit Ctrl+End, zoom to max, and check all tracks.
 
To delete whatever is there without knowing what it is, set Now where you think the piece should end, Set From = Now, then Set Thru = End (I have them keybound to non-defaults), and then Delete Special, checking everything.
 
To export a file of desired length without fixing the end, Select the desired range in the timeline before exporting...
 
OR (my preference)
 
Bounce the master bus to a track, slip-edit the end of the bounce back to where you want it, Bounce to Clips, and export just that track (Source = Tracks) with the clip selected to establish the time range. In this case, I recommend you set the Output of the bounce track direct to Main Outs so it plays just like the live mix when soloed or A/Bed against the Master bus. 

Check the event view for MIDI events that are located after where you think the end should be. Sometimes isolated MIDI CC or other events hang around and because their's no note to go with them they can be hard to spot in the track or piano roll views.

Thank you for your replies. My understanding is that any MIDI data on a track would create a clip disregarding of what data it is. If I use Mod wheel or CC or PG or a pedal, it creates preview on a track. All tracks appear empty- there is no microscopic events hiding somewhere at the end- I dont think it would require zoom to see if something was there- it would be visible on a track, wouldn't it?
 

Bounce the master bus to a track, slip-edit the end of the bounce back to where you want it, Bounce to Clips, and export just that track (Source = Tracks) with the clip selected to establish the time range. In this case, I recommend you set the Output of the bounce track direct to Main Outs so it plays just like the live mix when soloed or A/Bed against the Master bus. 

 
How do I normally create final stereo track from multitrack? I used to "select none" and it would mix everything I need. I never attempted to bounce just Master bus to a track. Also if I have to bounce it to the clip, it sounds to me like 2 bounces or 2 times processing- it can not be good for a wav file. May be it is... I guess I can select what I am bouncing and how long, also it is difficult (I have to figure out Set From = Now, then Set Thru = End options). It would be easier if I could just select the empty 40 measures and delete them but it does not delete them. Some how it stops at 300 measure, I just need to move it closer and stop sooner.

Do a select all (ctrl + a), then sweep in the time ruler at the top from 'beginning' to 'end' to encompass the range you want for your mixdown

I have had the same thing happen to me, what it turned out to be for me was a recording take that I had not realised was recorded on a new take lane and it went way longer than anything else in the song.
Check all take lanes they can cause a lot of Grief!!! and they hide the pesky buggers!
Mine was a take lane full of silence for longer than the song but somehow I never saw it.
Took ages to work it out.
I would prefer they get rid of take lanes they are a PITA!!
Hope it helps
Cheers
 

It was mentioned in a post above, but why wouldn't either of these 2 methods work?
 
First Method
1.  CTRL+A to select all tracks
2.  Set FROM time to beginning of song
3.  Locate the proper end of the song, and set THROUGH time to that location on the time line.
4.  Do your export, and it should only pick up the targeted range of data - avoiding picking up that trailing silence.
 
Second Method
1.  CTRL+A to select all tracks and data
2.  Set the FROM time to wherever what you want to be the song end is on the time line/.
3.  Set the THROUGH time to the actual end of all of that silent space.  (so, the goal is to select all tracks and data for the silent parts, the section AFTER where you consider the song to be at the end.
4.  Delete everything in the targeted data - which is all the silent stuff.
5.  Now do CTRL+A again to select all tracks and data - this will get all of your desired song data selected.
6.  Do your export, and it should have only your desired data, AND you should have eliminated whatever was goofed up, because you deleted everything in the silent section past the actual end of your song.
 
Please note that prior to doing any of the above, I would suggest backing up the project.
 
I have never had one of these past the end data issues, but I don't know why either of the above wouldn't work.  (does targeted deletion of data delete automation data too?)
 
Bob Bone