Because I get to record so infrequently these days, I'm still behind the 8 Ball making the transition from Sonar 8.5 to X3. Yesterday while working on a new project I came upon the following issues:
 

1. VST Synth GUI would not come up again after it was closed. I'm using the 32-bit of EZ Drummer and never had problems with it until yesterday. After closing the EZD GUI, I could not get it back again w/o either restarting X3 or deleting/re-creating the plug-in instance. Anyone else ever see this? Is there a work around?
2. Working with the icons to change teh cursor tool from SELECT, to EDIT, to MOVE etc is very cumbersome. I seem to remember having right/left click capability to change in S8.5.
3. Is there a way to stop auto docking?  I found myself bring undocked windows to the display I was nearest too and they annoyingly kept re-docking.

Stringrazor1
Because I get to record so infrequently these days, I'm still behind the 8 Ball making the transition from Sonar 8.5 to X3. Yesterday while working on a new project I came upon the following issues:
 

1. VST Synth GUI wound not come up again after it was closed. I'm using the 32-bit of EZ Drummer and never had problems with it until yesterday. After closing the EZD GUI, I could not get it back again w/o either restarting X3 or deleting/re-creating the plug-in instance. Anyone else ever see this? Is there a work around?
2. Working with the icons to change teh cursor tool from SELECT, to EDIT, to MOVE etc is very cumbersome. I seem to remember having right/left click capability to change in S8.5.
3. Is there a way to stop auto docking?  I found myself bring unocked windows to the display I was nearest too and they annoyingly kept re-docking.

#1- double click the small icon (not the track icon) in the track header, this will open the GUI.
#2- click the middle mouse wheel, or click "M" to bring up the tools HUD. I prefer the shortcuts to be honest.
(F5 / F6 / F7 / F8 / Exc, Exc)
#3- Create a screenset and lock it. this will keep your working environment intact.

chuckebaby
 
#1- double click the small icon (not the track icon) in the track header, this will open the GUI.
Yes, but what I meant was clicking the small icon was not working again after closing the GUI.
 
 
#2- click the middle mouse wheel, or click "M" to bring up the tools HUD. I prefer the shortcuts to be honest.
(F5 / F6 / F7 / F8 / Exc, Exc)
#3- Create a screenset and lock it. this will keep your working environment intact.
Thanks, I will try these suggestions!

You are very welcome

The F-keys do seem to be the most convenient. Is there a template available or a convenient list somewhere?

Is there a detailed downloadable manual available? I miss the paper manual days....

Stringrazor1

Is there a detailed downloadable manual available?

The Manual came with your download.
 
The F keys are very convenient. Cant get any easier than the top row on your keyboard.
If you don't like the F keys, use the middle mouse wheel. (as I mentioned in my last post)

Is the disappearing GUI only EZ drummer or other synths? 
I avoid 32 bit plug ins for these reasons. Doesn't EZ drummer supply a 64 bit version? 
A big huge reason to upgrade Sonar is you get Addictive Drums. 

chuckebaby
#2- click the middle mouse wheel, or click "M" to bring up the tools HUD.

 
I'm sure you meant to say "T". As you know, "M" opens the marker dialog.
 

Stringrazor1
Is there a way to stop auto docking? I found myself bring unocked windows to the display I was nearest too and they annoyingly kept re-docking.

 
Do you mean undocked PRV/SV/Inspector/Browser, etc. or undocked synth/plugin windows? If you mean the latter and are constantly suffering from the auto docking, I suggest you upgrade to the latest version of SONAR, since the Bakers kindly changed the docking behavior sometime last year (In X3, you need to hold down Ctrl while dragging the synth/plugin window in order to avoid auto docking).

Please don't suggest upgrades as a way to work better with X3. After being on the upgrade train since 4.0E for DOS, I think I'm done. I had considered lifetime upgrades but my X3 experience suggests it will be just a lifetime of having to learn WTF they did to the workflow I knew for so many years. Besides, I don't really use it enough to justify it. I'm still trying to resist the temptation to call X3 a loss and drop back to 8.5 for good.

I will go back and search the downloaded files for the manual. Don't remember seeing it.

As for my docking scenario, I have a TV that I use as a 2nd display and it's positioned a bit to the left. I like to put CV over the but occasionally I need to see it a bit closer up so I'll drag it to my main display and like a magnet to steel it auto docks (just like Windoze when a window touches the edge if you don't do the reg hack).
 
 issues from last night:

• somehow one track strip of the CV became narrower that all the others. Why and how to I get it back to normal width?
• How do I name clips? 
• Once I create track volume automation, clip trimming is locked? There were some other situations that also seemed to cause trimming to not work (clips lose color too)...?

The manual has been shipped with Sonar since the "4.0 DOS" days.
Many of your questions including the last few you just asked are very easy to search.
I don't mind helping you out with a problem or two... a couple questions but when I feel like im running errands that's when im out.
I hope I don't sound inconsiderate. my apology's if I do. Im just trying to keep it real.
Good luck.