Here is a thread that talks about the shortcut keys, and many folks print and laminate them from the Cakewalk documentation - link is in the following thread:
 
http://forum.cakewalk.com/List-of-keyboard-shortcuts-for-X3-Producer-m2938947.aspx
 
Much of it becomes familiar through repeated use, and many folks that originally hated X1 came to like things over time, with X3 being a highly valued release, for lots of reasons.  It is still not perfect, but is very stable, with really nice and useful features and inclusions.
 
Bob Bone
 

This is well recommended. Just do 30 to 60 mins a day for 8 days and you will nail it...

http://www.groove3.com/str/SONAR-X3-Explained.html

Thanks Alex for link to tutorial video package.
 
I know I come across as a newbie in this thread but, as you can see by my profile “joined” date (2007), I’ve been at it for quite a while. Yes I am brand new to Sonar X series, but I don’t want to pay $40 to have someone tell me how to use EQs and Compressors or how to crossfade or split a clip, or how to edit notes in a Piano Roll, etc., etc., which is stuff I already know, and which isn’t substantially different in approach from the pre X series Sonar.
 
Right now I just want to know if there is a Save icon in X3. It’s pretty much a yes or no question...
 
Thanks too, Bob, for the words of encouragement, but just because something “becomes familiar with repeated use” doesn’t make it optimum. It’s like a city driver having always owned automatics being forced to use a manual transmission, yes it becomes familiar with repeated use, but all he wants is his auto back.
 
Didn’t say I hate Sonar X3, actually like it a lot. But give me a one click icon over a typed combination of keys any day. The shortcut keyboard device you have referred to in your link basically backs my stand point that people love icons and are even willing to pay 169 dollars for them - as the keyboard they’re selling is icon based anyway, with little pictures on the keys. The main differences are that you have to take your eyes off the screen and contort your fingers to hold down several keys at once and may have to take your hand off the mouse. Plus the fact that we are unlikely to use all of the shortcuts marked on the keypad anyway. On the other hand a customised toolbar, like in Sonar 8, enables you to eliminate unused icons and place your go-to icons exactly where you want them – no taking eyes off screen, or hands off the mouse, or contorting of fingers - just click and presto.
 
 

Dilaco1
 
Right now I just want to know if there is a Save icon in X3. It’s pretty much a yes or no question...
 

No. Duckbar has a Save icon.

Not to state the obvious or to sound condescending but it might only take a millisecond longer to simply click File > Save/Save As than it does to click an icon. That's pretty much how I've always done it... even on my old DAW that actually had a save icon and pretty much every other program I use.
 
I understand that the X series dropped a lot of customization features and yeah that can be annoying when you're used to it but personally... I much prefer not having unnecessary controls like Save buttons taking up valuable screen real estate. In fact that's why you almost never see those save icons in ANY newer programs. They just really aren't needed.
 
That said... try out Duckbar. I've never used it because I'm fine just working with the program as is but I also didn't use Sonar before the X series. From what I've seen it was much more "traditional" in regards to how it all worked and as much as I can see the appeal in that the more I learn and solidify the "Skylight" way of doing things it's just a HELL of a lot faster and frankly cooler to work with especially now with X3 and the new Take Lane/Comping stuff (which were definitely half baked up until now). Everything else is fine for because I a) didn't have access to all that customization stuff (which seems to be slowly coming back anyway and can be done with Duckbar or that weird code entry section in Prefs that scares me) so I don't miss and b) I rarely alter programs unless I really need to anyway because... well if it's a good program I trust that the people who wrote it wrote it that way for a reason.
 
As has been said... just roll with it for a while, spend some time learning the ins/outs of it and it'll all grow on you. You are making the exact type of complaints a ton of long time users have been since the X series came out and even the most vocal opponents to the changes are now praising the current release.
 
Just sayin'. Good luck.

Oh and the reason I mentioned File > Save before going into my rant was because you said you do not want to take your eyes of the screen/hands of the mouse. The File menu is what? Maybe three inches from where the old Save icon would have been? Maybe less? No biggie. Cheers.
 

1.  Unless you try out and begin using Duckbar, and I don't even know if it has what you are looking for, the Save icon is not likely to come back in Sonar, ever.
 
2.  CTRL+S , like CTRL+Z, CTRL+C, and CTRL+V, are really not much of a stretch to get used to.  They are BASIC Windows convention key combinations.
 
Your left pinky will find the CTRL key without even having to look down, and it is a minimal glance to pick either S, Z, C, or V for doing Save, Undo, Copy, or Paste.  Your other choices are to use mouse clicks.
 
3.  Bottom line: use them, or don't.  That's the set of choices.  Your combined keystrokes thus far in this thread could have been used to save likely over 100 projects.
 
I am not at all trying to be antagonistic here -  there is simply LITTLE chance that they would consider losing any real estate for bringing back what are really considered trivial key combinations to accomplish basic functions in Windows, following Windows conventions.
 
I wish you the best with the product, and in life, so keep on plugging away at both, and I think you will find success.  :)
 
Bob Bone
 

Thanks guys for your responses, and thanks Scook for straight “no” answer.
 
Still a bit puzzled as to why an independently created program called a Duckbar has manifested if icons are not an issue with Sonar X users. I would have thought that for someone to go to those great lengths to come up with a complicated piece of software that makes Sonar the way many users wish it to be is a statement in itself? I am, however, reluctant to use it in case it destabilises Sonar.
 
Never mind, there is no doubt in my mind that X3 has enough pluses to outweigh the minuses, it would just be nice if there were no minuses at all in an upgrade.

CTRL-S, CTRL-A, CTRL-X, CTRL-V, CTRL-Z are universal shortcuts across pretty much all applications (just a snapshot). Really worth learning you will eventually be doing it in your sleep. As a conciliation prize applications are becoming increasingly touchscreen friendly, so I won't be surprised it that will (eventually) the return of the save icon.

Cheers...