Argh.
This is in Win 8.1
Any solution for this? The only way I can do it now is to manually type in the numbers.

..following up so BUMP.
anyone get this figured out yet?
 
I NEED it so bad to increment/decrement program changes to scroll through the numbers!

 
Have you programmed some keyboard shortcuts ?  (I don't think this is possible in win8.)
 
Are you on a laptop ?  (I doubt it with dual xeons)
 
If you're in Notepad, does this still happen or do you get "-" and "+" ?
 
What to you mean by "attempt" ?
 
It's got to be something with Windows, or your hardware, not Sonar.
 

No keyboard shortcuts.
Desktop, not laptop. In notepad, the minus key on the side keypad types out - and the plus key types +, it does not dim
Youre right, I need to better describe.
 
Before, when highlighting the program change number box while in a midi track, plus key would raise the numbers repeatedly and minus would lower them. Now, a popup occurs (windows 8 popup) in the upper left hand corner of the screen with a vertical progress bar and this changes the bar up or down. Note that my screen doesn't dim.

maybe they hadn't testing with 8.1 yet?

soundsubs
Before, when highlighting the program change number box while in a midi track, plus key would raise the numbers repeatedly and minus would lower them. Now, a popup occurs (windows 8 popup) in the upper left hand corner of the screen with a vertical progress bar and this changes the bar up or down. Note that my screen doesn't dim.

This is bizarre for a couple of reasons.  First, on my desktops, I can't adjust the screen brightness from the keyboard, it has to be done using the Dell monitors' oncscreen menus, and a brightness-setting bar does not even appear under power management (it does on my laptop).  Are you using some sort of multimedia keyboard with a control program to manage the extra buttons ?
 
Second, in windows 8 which I don't have, you can apparently get to a brightness-setting dialog box with the keyboard shortcut Winkey+I.  I don't know if once there + and - will change the brightness or not (it's up/down arrow in win7).
 
Since you say you're getting the brightness-setting popup, I'd look at what you do immediately before this popup appears. 
 
 
 

Thanks for the reply.
Went thru a couple Microsoft keyboard/mouse settings, and nothing works. I'm not doing anything but using Sonar and clicking in the midi program/bank fields.
 
I'm starting to think this is a Win8/8.1 issue. Somehow its telling the brightness to start.  

I tested the method you use using the numpad - and + and I had the expected results. 
I have Win 8.1 Pro.
 
What keyboard are you using?

soundsubs
I'm not doing anything but using Sonar and clicking in the midi program/bank fields.

 
So you're just using Sonar normally, then when you click the program field the brightess box immediately pops up ?  Fascinating.  I'm sorry, but I'm completely out of ideas.
 

What brand of keyboard is this?  The move to Win8 may require additional/updated software for the keyboard (If MS, check the optional OS updates).
 
Also, if wireless, low battery power can cause screwy behavior.