File updated on 5/16, Version 1.20. Audio preview and wildcard file scans. See update section below in stunning orange color.
 
Over the years of using a DAW, I have amassed many, many project files. I'll bet you have too. (Or soon will, you creative-type, you!) Keeping track of them and revisiting them ends up, for me at least, a bit of a chore when I'm looking for a specific Sonar project and I don't remember what it's called on the outside. (I know I'm supposed to keep the folder/directory structure organized and all, but--well....) If I could just peak INside the project file, but that peaking involved loading a bunch of projects in a row before I found the right one. Takes too much time. So, I came up with a software tool, a cwp file browser, to help me out. Peaking is much faster and I find the project I was looking for much more quickly.
 
I am sharing this utility with the community. Maybe you will find it of use as well. You can download it here: http://adamczyk.com/images/projectscope.exe or http://adamczyk.com/images/projectscope.zip (Same file either way.)
 
It's use is pretty simple. Launch projectscope.exe, navigate to where your Sonar project files are, select a file, ProjectScope shows you some information about what's in the file. It's read-only, project files are not messed with in any-way-shape-or-form. There is no setup, just put the exe in a directory and run it. ProjectScope generates a companion INI file to save your project directory. I've only used this with Sonar files, going back about a decade.
 
Update for version 1.20: Wildcard search for filenames is now in. You can search for specific related projects (for example, if they all have "Sharknado_Album*" in the file name. Filename search is in addition to searching for project info, audio files, etc.
Also, for version 1.20, VC update (very cool), you can preview listen to the audio files listed in a project! I find this feature VERY handy (I can listen to the bounced audio reference I have for each project and instantly know what it is, even the old ones), I trust you will too.
 
By the way, if you doubleclick a project in ProjectScope, it gets launched in Sonar.
 
Update for version 1.15: Search functionality is now in. You can search ALL your Sonar projects for keywords in the Project Info, or audio file names, or plug-in names, etc. Also, copy and paste for exporting lists to other programs, for record-keeping or just impressing friends.
 
I hope you find it useful. If you have suggestions or, heaven forfend, issues with the program--a) keep in mind that I've only ever run it on my DAWs with my projects up to now so give me some slack and, b) contact me with said suggestions/issues. I hereby commit to spending a reasonable amount (my definition of reasonable takes precedence) of time clearing up issues and even improving this utility, should it prove advantageous to do so (what the heck did I just type?). An obvious improvement would be a search-across-multiple-cwps feature.
 
Here is a screenshot of the puppy in action:

Here is the newly-added Search panel

 

Thanks for sharing, Mark. Could be useful. I'm one of those guys with a million old projects and they're mostly instrumental so names are not terribly useful for remembering what's what.

Many thanks Mark. This could be very useful.

Yes, Opus1, Opus2...etc has it's limtations.
 
Thanks for providing this.
 
Have an upcoming feature request to improve browser in Sonar.
I kind of like some abilities in Cubase media browser, like ability to mark with up to 5 stars, to use as a filter.
Keep track of progress kind of - embryo, in progress, final mix, mastering, done etc.
 
Something I also liked about Tracktion, a space to use to manage projects.
Instead of just - recent projects - menu.

Thank you for this. I still have files from 2XL, and the names lost meaning long ago....
 
Mel

czyky
An obvious improvement would be a search-across-multiple-cwps feature.

Yup a VST "where used" report is something I've requested from the bakers but yet to see.
 
Need it to help find say all projects that have Sample Tank 2.5 so I can replace it with 3.5. Or just look for projects that have those other two or three old-timey 32bit plugs still on my system.

Awesome share.
Thanks for that tool.
 
 

Thank you for your comments, all.
 
haha, lfm! "Opus1, opus2...." At least there's a progression there. Better than: "today's idea", "today's idea_a", "another idea", "cool idea", "very awesome idea that I simply have to develop some day", etc. Or, even worse, "client project #1", "client project #2", "client...."--you get the photo. (And I wish I was kidding.)
 
Now that I have a way to check the "project info" directly (without loading each project), I am being much more diligent about filling that in, even just a few keywords and jotting some notes to myself. (haha, whole projects are just "jotting some notes to myself"!) I put keys and musical terms ("Cm rock", "E blues") in as key words, for example. I've also standardized some of my wordings, like using "mm." for the metronome count (ex. "mm.96") or "AABA" for song form (not 20th century Swedish superbands).

Thanks for sharing! Nice utility that will be useful when looking for the right CWP.

Thanks for this. This is the sort of thing we need built into the platinum browser.
 
Some feedback? Couple of bugs perhaps.

Won't show Addictive drums 1 (or maybe AD 2) plugin.

Shows "Grooveplayer" quite regularly for some reason - is this "Session Drummer 3"? Not sure. Maybe it thinks Grooveplayer is Addictive drums??


Also if you click on some of the values displayed it gives "Index out of bounds"
 
Very useful!