ABACAB: I have no clips in my Track Pane right side grid/work area; it's all blank. (Per my image in Post #14, all tracks are collapsed to single-line.) I double-click that right side and it highlights the Track, but doesn't "select/pick" it for PRV editing. As you stated, highlighting a Track has nothing to do with the PRV editing.
 
Is it supposed to be this way? Isn't the highlighted Track supposed to automatically appear in the PRV grid? Just the same, isn't the PRV supposed to reflect the highlighted/selected Track? That's the way it's been in past DAW's I've used, unless I'm still not understanding...
 
(I test this by assigning a different instrument to each Track for sampling, and playing keys.) I can confirm the PRV is not working hand-in-hand with the Track pane and it doesn't (or has never) reflected my highlighted Track, unless I force it in either of these ways:
1) Highlight a track, then select Views-Piano Roll View to populate the PRV with that Track's data
2) In the PRV Tracks button, select Pick Tracks (followed by Track # selection)

I have contacted Cakewalk tech support to see if this is an interface thing or user error.
I just want to know how to select a Track, and have that Track's notation data appear in PRV as I think it should. :)

Grundberg
I have no clips in my Track Pane right side grid/work area; it's all blank. (Per my image in Post #14, all tracks are collapsed to single-line.) I double-click that right side and it highlights the Track, but doesn't "select/pick" it for PRV editing. As you stated, highlighting a Track has nothing to do with the PRV editing.

Clicking on a blank clip won't work.  If there's no data in the clip, there is nothing to open in Piano Roll.  Please use the method described below.
 

Grundberg
Isn't the highlighted Track supposed to automatically appear in the PRV grid? Just the same, isn't the PRV supposed to reflect the highlighted/selected Track? That's the way it's been in past DAW's I've used, unless I'm still not understanding...

 
No.  But you can click to select one, or ctrl-click several, and then on main menu, use Views > Piano Roll View, and the selected tracks will be selected within the Piano Roll when it opens up. The keyboard shortcut is Alt-3. 
 
You can also select additional tracks in the track view, then Alt-3 to see all selected in the existing Piano Roll.  But you have to make an action to get them visible in the piano roll.
 
As far as I know, Cakewalk Piano Roll has never worked the way you seem you want it to.  The track view and piano roll do not move hand in hand sync with selection as you describe. 

if you click on a blank track (in the area where the clips should be but there's no data yet)
instead right click and choose Views/ PRV . Then that track and its respective VST Synth will open in the PRV.
 
the advise given here is great so I cant add to anything that's already been said. these guys are all over it. so I don't want to confuse you by adding anything more. however if I may add one suggestion,
 
when you open the PRV, use the "Track pane" to switch between tracks.
In the PRV there are some drop down menus.
 
View/ Show Track pane
Tracks/ Pick tracks
 
this is where you can cycle between tracks easily. pick all the tracks you want in the track pane then simply click on the track you want to edit. BUT be sure to lock the others you don't want edited or you may start editing everything.

chuckebaby
 
when you open the PRV, use the "Track pane" to switch between tracks.
In the PRV there are some drop down menus.
 
View/ Show Track pane
Tracks/ Pick tracks
 
this is where you can cycle between tracks easily. pick all the tracks you want in the track pane then simply click on the track you want to edit. BUT be sure to lock the others you don't want edited or you may start editing everything.

Great tip chucke!  Forgot about that one.
 
Here's a link to the help on that topic : http://www.cakewalk.com/D...lp=EditingMIDI.10.html

Grundberg
 
EDITED, 1/15
 
The PRV doesn't seem to reflect my highlighted/select Track in the Track pane.
I have to highlight a Track and choose Views-Piano Roll View every time to force the PRV to show that Track's notation data.
 
I just upgraded from Sonar X3 to Sonar Artist to expand/refresh my experience with this amazing DAW. I wish to share some questions and concerns I have with the installation experience, if I may...

It works the same way in X3, which I still have installed.  So what exactly changed when you upgraded to Artist?

chuckebaby
if you click on a blank track (in the area where the clips should be but there's no data yet)
instead right click and choose Views/ PRV . Then that track and its respective VST Synth will open in the PRV.

 
Based on your instructions, this is what I'm getting when I right-click that area:
 

 
But SOMEHOW, I did accidentally see the Views part when I tried to screencap this (via Paint Shop Pro), involving CTRL and/or SHIFT along the way...!
 
But on your Pick Tracks instruction, I believe that makes sense. Maybe I've been doing it the counter-intuitive way all along.

abacab
It works the same way in X3, which I still have installed.  So what exactly changed when you upgraded to Artist?

That's a good question. I'm sure it was the same in Sonar X3, but it just occurred to me that I'm taking an extra step having to access the Menu every time I want to change tracks for editing. Know what I'm saying?
 
I'll have to reinstall Sonar X3 and see exactly how this function behaves differently. I just thought choosing a track for editing in the PRV would be a lot more intuitive than this. (shrug)

Grundberg

chuckebaby
if you click on a blank track (in the area where the clips should be but there's no data yet)
instead right click and choose Views/ PRV . Then that track and its respective VST Synth will open in the PRV.

 
Based on your instructions, this is what I'm getting when I right-click that area:
 
 

that's because your right clicking in the PRV
What I said was: "Right click on a blank track (in the area where the clips should be but there's no data yet)"
IE - The Track View"
 
Normally when you record data in to a track..there is data in that track. when there is NO data in that track you can simply click in the blank area (in the track view) and right click/views/prv and that synth will open in the PRV

I think the answer is that this is neither an interface bug, or user error.
 
All DAWs have a slightly different workflow from each other, and differences in how the interface is designed to function.  There is no standard.
 
The best thing to do is learn how the DAW that you own functions, and work with it.  You cannot always expect a DAW to work the way you want it to. If you cannot stand the way something works, use another tool for that.  But complaining about the way a tool is designed is a waste of time.  Of course, you could always submit a feature request to Cakewalk.
 
There are usually several ways to accomplish something in Sonar, which can add to the learning curve.  So this is the place to find out how to accomplish a task, or maybe discover a workaround for what you need to do.

CHUCKEBABY:
In the image I posted, that right-click menu indeed came from the Track Pane clips work area. It dropped downward from where my mouse pointer was.
 
ABACAB:
I took your advice into consideration, but prior to that, I had tinkered with the "Pick Tracks" function and the corresponding Pick Tracks Pane. This is what I discovered...
 
In the image below (a bare-bones template), I enabled the Pick Tracks Pane and picked all Tracks to be edited. I  collapsed the Browser for the time being, not having a use for it until special effects are involved.
 

 
I am -- and will always be -- using one monitor, as my workspace restricts me to this and it's the way I gotta go.
 
The Tracks Pane seems like a refreshing solution to my complaint. Having done this, I can legitimately one-click a Track for PRV editing and go right to it. As long as I remember this caveat: all notes in every track will be visible at once. This might be the way to go, as is seems much easier than going to the Views menu each time just to select a track. :)

Grundberg
 

 
 (Is there a way to show only the selected track in the PRV?) This might be the way to go, as is seems much easier than going to the Views menu each time just to select a track. :)

Yup! Take another look at the little icons for each track in the track list pane, that looks like a pair of 1/8 notes.  You can enable or disable the view of the notes in that track.  So you can either see all tracks side by side in color coded fashion, or select just one or more part(s) when selecting notes to edit.