I need to insert 30-40 seconds of extra content into a mix I'm working on. Can Ripple editing just add the required space into a project without screwing up my envelopes and automation. It's mainly Volume envelopes however I haven't used this feature as yet and don't want give myself a nightmare of a job if it screws up.
 
Anything I should ensure before I try reinvent the wheel.
 

Make a back up copy of your entire project!

bwbalint
Make a back up copy of your entire project!

Why ? Ripple editing is in the clip board and totally reversible.
 
Anyway, To the OP:
what I do is turn on Ripple editing and then use the cut/paste command.
 
You can also:
If its in the middle of your project, cut all the track you want moved (split) using the Split function "S".
Turn on Ripple editing for all tracks. Lasso the right portion of your clips and drag then as far out as you need.
Double check your automation. its totally reversible if it doesn't work. No need to make any back ups of your project.
I've used Ripple editing many times now and not once had a problem with it.
 
 

I think I will manually shift each track block to be on the safe side. I'm kind of still working on the tail end of the mix anyway.
 
It seemed to crash my mix however the routing is a bit complex getting.
 

As for the backup, I was only repeating that little voice in my head that says ' Before you do this process that changes your whole project, you should just quickly make a backup.'  I know it really has nothing to do with ripple editing at all.  And I know that undo is a great feature.  

My rule on creating a backup is "back up whenever you've done anything you don't want to lose." However like Chuck I have found Ripple Editing to be non-problematic. 

I don't think it was that alone. I sent Cakewalk a bun report.
 

Never dissuade someone from doing a backup!!  You should all be smarted than that folks.  I've had Sonar editting totally totally mess up a project although didn't realize until later.   You can't take too many backups as long as the OP doesn't mind.
 

I will experiment.
 

Whether it's Word, Excel, my Graphics program Xara or Sonar, I always save a copy when I'm about to do something daring, interesting, or stupid.
 
That said, I think that Ripple Editing, for all the hype and requests over the years, has to be one of the most obvious and "I'm surprised this hasn't been in here the whole time" kind of features to come along.  I went to use it the other day to add some space to the front end of a tune to add an intro and it was SO easy.  Seems like it just should have worked this way all along: not even like "a feature", rather an expectation of how the workflow should be.