Hi.  About 10-12 years ago I stopped writing music and am now returning.  I have the Sonar Platinum Lifetime deal.  "Back in the day"  I could use Sonar pretty comfortably, but it has obviously changed much since Sonar 6.  How do I get help like a basic manual?  When I go to help now, I am referred to "Ask Questions" which rarely gets me a good answer.  For example:  I thought I would start by remixing some of my songs from 10 years ago.  I opened one and the midi files were gone (it was a Cakewalk bundle!)  Well, I messed around with mixing, but as some plug ins were not available, I opened it in safe mode and my midi files were there as an "Archive file." (which I had forgotten about.)  Well, how to I unarchive them and see them?  I can click on archive and they will sort of play, but unlike in Sonar, they don't show any midi data in the color bars which represent the 12 tracks.  If I click on a track and hit view/staff, I can see the notes.  But my point is not how to proceed, it is where the heck are help files?  When I asked about archived files in "ask questions" I got nothing.  When I asked about previewing loops, I got nothing.  I know the info is there, how can I tap it?  Is there a real Sonar Help file?  Sorry to rant but I am pretty used to trying to get my own answers and reading manuals etc. to get them, so this is frustrating.  TIA for any replies.

Sounds like you ended up in the Bakery. I think only scook helps there and he gets pretty busy. You'll get an answer eventually I guess, but this is the old forum and you'll get help here no problem.
 
What happens if you double click the midi tracks? That should open Piano Roll View ( PRV ) and show the midi notes just like it did in 6. 
DO you still have Sonar 6 and and computer that will run it? 
Reason I ask is it would be much better if all your old projects were saved as CWP files. Many people seem to end up with corrupted Bundle files. 
 
The help files are a download from your CCC. Local documentation. 

Open up Sonar Platinum and Press "p"

This brings up the preferences dialogue box. Head to File | advanced and look for the option "Always use Local Help".  Make sure this is ticked. 

Also, make sure you have actually downloaded the local help to your PC.  The Cakewalk Command centre is the easiest way to do this...    In Cakewalk Command centre, drill down the item Sonar Platinum and look for "SONAR local documentation"

Then, from with Sonar Platinum, on the main menu, head over to Help | Getting started.  Assuming the above is done correctly, this should open up the local help file.

There are also PDF files of the local help files as well.  These are located in the C:\Program Files\Cakewalk\SONAR Platinum folder (assuming 64bit version)

help that helps.

Super will try those tomorrow (am too frustrated now!)  Am watching Sonar University (I try and do my homework) about Addictive Drums.  According to my "products page" I have them installed, but when I go to the Browser window (as it tells me to at Sonar University) nothing is labeled VST 2 or 3, it is labeled Bass, Drums etc and Addictive Drums is nowhere to be seen.  Arrrrrrgggghhhhh.  So frustrating.  Will grit my teeth tonight and try your suggestions in the am.  Thanks for the info.

Addictive Drums is a separate installer and you also need to download and run the on line app that will register it. https://www.xlnaudio.com/install
 

Sonar Reference Guide.pdf can be found in
C:/Program Files/Cakewalk/Sonar Platinum/

When you open Sonar and hover over any active area or menu, pressing F1 will open the internal help file which is the most up to date. If you're online you can select to always have the online help file available. Select it in the Help menu.

There's lots of help to be found online at the Cakewalk site, tutorials, videos FAQs etc. tons of stuff and of course come here and ask. You will benefit from looking around yourself and becoming familiar with where things are. It's not always so intuitive but it keeps getting better. All the best.

Okay, well I am just as happy as a clam (are clams really happy?)  I did find Addictive drums installer and that is now working as advertised (although I have much reading to do about using it.)  Plus, I put a shortcut to the manuals on my desktop, set Sonar to use local resources and wow.....hit F1 for help files.  Will always try to find answers myself before posting here.....and will finish watching the many videos on Sonar University.  Thanks much for pointing me in the right direction!  As an aside, I may have Sonar 6 someplace but, as far as I can tell, the bundles are not corrupted, I can see data there when I look at them in staff view....but I am not sure how to un-archive them and turn them into what I remember midi tracks used to be.

Eaglesfan
Super will try those tomorrow (am too frustrated now!)  Am watching Sonar University (I try and do my homework) about Addictive Drums.  According to my "products page" I have them installed, but when I go to the Browser window (as it tells me to at Sonar University) nothing is labeled VST 2 or 3, it is labeled Bass, Drums etc and Addictive Drums is nowhere to be seen.  Arrrrrrgggghhhhh.  So frustrating.  Will grit my teeth tonight and try your suggestions in the am.  Thanks for the info.

 
You may want to take a peek at this, just a couple clicks to see them the way you prefer:
 
Plug-in Browser organization
https://www.cakewalk.com/...p=NewFeatures.024.html
 
> Sort by Category. The default layout, which organizes plug-ins into category subfolders such as EQ, Dynamics, Reverb, etc. If a plug-in has more than one category, it will be listed in each category subfolder.

You can assign plug-ins to any of the default categories, or create your own custom categories. You can even combine VST3, VST2, and DirectX plug-ins in the same category.

> Sort by Manufacturer. Sort plug-ins alphabetically by manufacturer name.

> Sort by Type. Sort plug-ins by their native format (VST3, VST2, and DirectX) and manufacturer.

Thanks, sorting synths and plug ins was something that I found important.  Looking at the link you posted now.