Just updated to X3b...now for a nosey!

It's a nice little improvement,  and I understand the Bakers thinking on the rule:
 
* No MIDI output ports are available
 
But it would be even easier and more flexible to have the mapping as a choice either at opening time or even better in preferences, no matter the out ports. Of course, this is no big deal in any way, shape or form to me. You can just deselect your midi outputs and there's plenty of ways to handle it. I'm not even sure how often people load midi song files into Sonar either (rarely in my case). There is a risk however that people with midi out ports (I would think we're a large number) might not even find such a hidden feature.
 
 

I have always had that by having a default MIDI output going to my Sound Canvas 8850. Open a MIDI file and the first MIDI out is for SC 8850.  Hit play and it plays.

This is awesome.  Both that it now does it, and John's technique too.
 
I have a zillion midi files from all kinds of music - well over 1000 files, and I want to build up a bunch of them to go do cheesy solo piano gigs for brunches and wedding receptions and such, so this will save me countless hours.  At $150/hour for the wedding receptions, it is well worth doing for me, as a means to buy new gear.
 
(I will leave the keyboard tracks for the songs for me to play, but will have all of the backing tracks to get a fuller sound).
 
Thanks, John, and thanks, Sonar.
 
Bob Bone
 

John
I have always had that by having a default MIDI output going to my Sound Canvas 8850. Open a MIDI file and the first MIDI out is for SC 8850.  Hit play and it plays.

That's how I used it also but to a Korg NX5R. That's why I noted that I understood why they exclude "real ports" from the automatic set up of TTS-1. That's also why I think it would be neat to have both options without having to disable the midi ports.

a nice feature for some.. but count me with John.. this is where having GM compatible hardware is handy :)

In my case, the TTS1 loads, but all midi tracks are directed to my Control Surface port (V-Control, an iPad app).