long story short, I've gotten back into music. I've had a (store bought) legal version of Sonar Home Studio XL version 7, but I've been having a lot of problems.
 
first, I don't have a toolbars menu. I've been using Sonar 7 power! to help get into the swing of things, but a lot of the information is just not there.
 
second, my midi does not record in clips. I'm in the track view and there are piano rolls there instead. I included a picture.
 

 
as you can see, I can record the midi with my Xiosynth, and I can set up audio tracks to route the midi to, but I can not get them into clips. on the drum track show here, I used the step sequencer to start a basic beat for an intro, but I can not drag it out to extend the first end loop point. I tried to copy and paste in the actual piano roll, and that didn't work either. I've tried doing internet searches for days but apparently I'm the only one with this problem. I also tried clicking after the end of the first sequence and using the step sequencer again but that doesn't work. I really want to work in clips, since it is a lot easier and far less annoying/time consuming that working with the entire piano roll but I can't find out how to change it and none of the tutorials I've watched on midi clips or step sequencer in Sonar 7 help...or even look like my version of 7.
 
also, why can I not arm the audio tracks to record the midi data I've set. the input is set as the vst, and it produces sound...but I can't record it into a clip. am I doing something wrong there?
 
I appreciate any help that could be spared. I'm on the verge of giving up on Sonar since I can't surmount getting the program set up, nonetheless actually recording with it.

Welcome to the forum.
In my version, there is a little keyboard icon on the top right of the MIDI Track Pane which toggles PRV Mode on and off. I don't see that icon in your screen shots. Maybe search "PRV Mode" in your help files?
To 'record' a soft synth, it needs to be Bounced. You select your MIDI track and soft synth track, then go to Edit>Bounce to Track(s). That will render the MIDI to audio and you can Archive the original MIDI track and delete the synth from the project if you want to. Search 'Bounce' for more info.
There may not be a toolbar menu in your version. I seem to recall they removed it in later versions, but I'm not sure... What options do you get when clicking the Views button at the top?
And SONAR 7 is an older version of SONAR, more related to Home Studio 4, I believe, than to Home Studio 7.

thank you. I had to search for PRV in the help menu, then find that I had to highlight a track and toggle PRV mode in the Tracks drop down folder. Not efficient at all, but it works and I thank you for that.
 
So my Sonar 7 book isn't even for my version of Sonar? Home Studio 7 is too compare to Sonar 7? I assumed I just had Sonar 7 when I spent all that money on the book; shame on me. No wonder the first few chapters don't apply to me, since all the toolbar menus and other set up options are either missing or in drop down menus instead. I can still gleam information from the actual recording sections of the book, so it isn't a total loss.
 
I see. So select the midi track, and the audio track and bounce them to a track. I understand. thank you.
 
You've been a lot of help, thanks so much!

Sonar Home Studio is kind of an odd bird.
It is actually derived from Sonar 8, but the onscreen interface is unique to SHS7, Music Creator 5, and Guitar Tracks 4. No other Cakewalk product looks like these three.
Most of the principles in your Sonar 7 book willy apply, but how you get there may be different.
Spend some time with your help files (F1) Not everything is intuitive at first, but once you grasp the logic, it starts to make sense.
Good luck.

RobertB
Sonar Home Studio is kind of an odd bird.
It is actually derived from Sonar 8, but the onscreen interface is unique to SHS7, Music Creator 5, and Guitar Tracks 4. No other Cakewalk product looks like these three.

 
As I recall, Sonar HS7 was considered a step backwards by those who "upgraded" from HS6, to which Cakewalk responded by offering them a cheap upgrade to Sonar 8.