Could anyone please share links to nice tutorials on how to quickly write notes in Staff View?
 
For example, I would like to copy some notes that are written in PDF into MIDI track via Staff View. One of the first tasks is to add notes of different type (1/4, 1/8, etc). 
 
I am having real difficulties with that.
 
Most of the actions look very counter-intuitive to me and take a lot of efforts, almost nothing is possible with a single click. May be I completely misunderstand the concept behind the Staff View but it's definitely one of those rare examples in software world that confound me.
 
How to do it "right way"?
Thank you in advance!

Here are a couple of links which should help:
 
https://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation?product=SONAR&language=3&help=Tutorial5.1.html
 
https://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation?product=SONAR&language=3&help=Notation.01.html
 
 

Thank you, pbognar, that helped but not too much.
 
I am a bit confused. For example, changing a note's duration is accomplished with multiple clicks + keyboard typing (!). They even tell that in order to get 1/4 you have to type "1:000" (!!) I am sorry but that's nonsense. Seriously, I don't understand why it's done in such a complicated way.
 
OK, they did it this way - but give us an ability to work with shortcuts! It is not possible either, isn't it?
 
This software is on the market during decades. Why no one from Cakewalk cares about a usable Staff View? It's not that difficult to create a sensible UI. I just don't understand that...

The quickest way for me...
 
  Play the notes in from a midi keyboard, quantize, open Staff View and a Piano Roll View. Edit in PRV and see the changes in SV.
 
I can get that done very quickly.

The staff view is very under developed,  but this is recording studio software not score composition.
 
The best way to enter midi is either by playing it or using the piano roll view.

In earlier Cakewalk programs, there were keyboard shortcuts for selecting note duration; 1 for whole note, 2 for half and so on.
During my brief flirtation with Music Creator 6, I learned to my chagrin they had discontinued that feature. I used the shortcuts often.
I learned here that you can assign/re-assign shortcuts, so I can set it up as I'm used to it being. 
If I ever fire up X3; still using SONAR Home Studio 6 XL.

Thank you guys for your thoughts and advice.
 
My keyboard is coming so I don't have it now - hence cannot use it as input method.
 
Yes, Sonar is not a score composition software but hey - they already have too much things programmed in Staff View. They have already put efforts into it. My point is that it is pretty easy to make it more user-friendly. In fact, I am surprised that they could make it so wrong. It's like a square wheel or something. Feels like it's implemented by programmers who are far away from the subject.

The fastest way to switch note durations is to hit T which brings up a toolbar with the note selector at the mouse cursor.

-vince-
Thank you guys for your thoughts and advice.
 
My keyboard is coming so I don't have it now - hence cannot use it as input method.
 
Yes, Sonar is not a score composition software but hey - they already have too much things programmed in Staff View. They have already put efforts into it. My point is that it is pretty easy to make it more user-friendly. In fact, I am surprised that they could make it so wrong. It's like a square wheel or something. Feels like it's implemented by programmers who are far away from the subject.

+1
it was easier to use 20 years ago. :-)

Another way to change the value of note durations: Use the length feature under Processes. Figure out what percentage will give you the new value. For example, an eighth note is half as long as a quarter note. So increase the eighth notes by 150%. you can lasso as many eighth notes as you have, and then change them all instantly this way. Note: make sure you uncheck the "start times" box, or you will also change when all the notes start! just change the "duration" parameter. (See, staff view does have some uses).