Hi all...
 
Quick question....  To use a "Bundle" file (*.cwb), does the second computer have to be configured EXACTLY like the computer the file was created on?  (Same OS, same version of SONAR, same Plugins, etc.)
 
Someone sent me a CWB file and I can't get my Sonar Platinum to open it...Sonar just freezes up at the "Missing Plugins" little window, and I have to use Windows Task Manager (control-alt-del) to turn off Sonar.  I realize I don't have the same soft-synths as my friend.
 
Thanks for any tips.

The bundle unpacks the same project that was saved at the other computer. There is no way for a project that calls for the use of PluginA on the sender's computer to use PluginA when the project opens on your computer, unless you have PluginA installed and authorized on your computer. It is not a bundle format issue, it is a Sonar version and resources compatibility issue. So if your version of Sonar will run on your OS and it is compatible with the version on the senders end (even if he uses a different OS) there would not be a problem. If your Sonar version will open his version's project it should work as long as it has the plugins and built in "features." Sonar versions should open projects created in earlier versions of Sonar (backward compatible) but not newer versions (forward compatible?). And if the project requires a feature of a version that is not available in your version, if he sends you Prochannel stuff for your studio version that does not have prochannel for example there is a problem.

Have your friend save not as a bundle but into a per-project folder, ZIP the file, and send it to you.
 
You can then open the .cwp file in SONAR's "safe mode" and choose which plug-ins to load and which plug-ins to leave out. Hopefully you can replace whatever you don't have with something similar.

May want to have your friend freeze the tracks which have plug-ins you don't own.

Thanks guys.  Any ideas as to why my Sonar freezes up when it tries to open the file?  Seems like it ought to let me just cancel out instead of locking up.
 
The song only has 3-4 tracks.... an audio file or 2 and an instrument track.

It's probably searching for stuff that just ain't there and crapping the bed when it can't find it.
 
Are you just adding some tracks, are you expected to mix, is it a "ping pong" type project or...? There are different ways to approach these types of things depending on what you are trying to accomplish.

Right now just trying to open it.  LOL...  The final object is to assist my friend with some possible suggestions on how to better mix or engineer the project.  I will not be adding anything other instrument tracks or recording anything else. Project needs help with timing and panning mostly.  (No metronome used.)
 
I have tried to open it in Safe Mode, but it still freezes Sonar.

You can't open a bundle file in safe mode, only a project. Another potential issue if the file has been around for a while is that the media with the bundle file is corrupted.

tbosco
Right now just trying to open it.  LOL...  The final object is to assist my friend with some possible suggestions on how to better mix or engineer the project.  I will not be adding anything other instrument tracks or recording anything else. Project needs help with timing and panning mostly.  (No metronome used.)
 
I have tried to open it in Safe Mode, but it still freezes Sonar.

Get them to do a "wet" track export. That way you can just take the raw, effected waves, do the panning and audiosnap stuff then send them a cwb with the new timeline and track settings.
 
Might be useful as well if you got them to send a dry snare (or other steady drum track holding up the beat) so you can easily extract the tempo. Otherwise just start a MIDI track of your own and tap out a beat on whatever controller you have handy then extract a tempo from that.
 
Sorry if that is not helpful or I am misunderstanding the project.

Try opening it in X3 or earlier. Bundle files are basically a form of archiving like ZIP files but exclusive to Sonar. If your Sonar won't open it, freezing all the tracks and doing what Craig said in post #3 is the best alternative as long as you use per-project audio folders.