When writing for orchestra I naturally have many instruments, usually between 20 and 30. But only about 21 can be viewed in Staff View at any one time. I usually deal with this by selecting all the winds only, or all the perc. and strings only. This works fine, but I've always wondered if there is a way to have them all up in staff view. I don't want to reduce the font size, I need it where it is or I can't see!

I haven't even hit the limit you did, so I cannot answer.  When I had so many tracks (also writing for symphony orchestra) I put everything into a notation program.  I'll be interested if someone knows the answer to your question, though.
 

Have you heard about Jerry's trick?  He sets up sections, locks them, undocs them and opens multiple staff views at one time.  I'll bet you could accomplish what you are trying to do using his technique...of you have multiple screens.  

michael diemer
When writing for orchestra I naturally have many instruments, usually between 20 and 30. But only about 21 can be viewed in Staff View at any one time. I usually deal with this by selecting all the winds only, or all the perc. and strings only. This works fine, but I've always wondered if there is a way to have them all up in staff view. I don't want to reduce the font size, I need it where it is or I can't see!

I have never seen a way of doing what you're asking . . . after all it is a staff view, not a score view . . . purposed more for pop tunes than orchestrations. When I attempt something orchestral, my workaround in Sonar is to group the orchestra sections on different multi-dock tabs. ie. if you right click a staff view multi-dock tab, and select "lock contents", it enables you to open another staff view multi-dock tab. Lock and repeat as needed.
(I've never run into a limit of how many tabs you can have, but maybe there is ?)
Then . . . it's a quick keyboard shortcut to move between the "staff" tabs
(Ctrl-Shift . . . left + right arrow keys)

Thanks for the suggestions. I think my way of just opening either the winds or perc/strings is easier. Also, I sometimes select only those inst's I currently need. It's not a big deal, I just was hoping there was some way around this.
 
I am aware it is more an editing tool than real notation. I use Notion for that.