I have a bar.  It's 4/4 time and all I want to do is to insert two half notes - a middle C followed by a G.  It should be straight forward but it just isn't.  The first note went in fine and the second note should complete the bar but instead I get a rest above the C followed by what looks like modern art with rests and tied notes of every variety.  How do you do the simplest of tasks - put in two half notes to complete a 4/4 bar?

Hi. Which view is this in?
All the best.

Staff view...  Since I am writing music by inserting notes upon a staff.
 
What is happening is that when I insert the second note the program isn't seeing the first note I put in so it is creating rests in front of the second note.  I have another few thousand notes to compose this is not going to be fun.

I think I see my error.  In order to replace the rest that is already there, you have to target it with the new note insert.  Aiming in front of it does not push it aside as inserting a whole note does.

So your topic title "The Nightmare of Writing Music in Sonar Platinum" is just a bit of an over-exaggeration?
A "nightmare" would be more akin to having the software crash every 30 seconds, and NOT an end-user's confusion on how to insert a note properly.

Post responsibly.  Post accurately.   The people in this forum offer their help to you for free.  Your topic heading is less likely to get you that free help, and more likely to get people upset and ignore your post.  (Just my humble opinion)

Also, give the PRV a chance. No, it isn't a staff view, but it doesn't take that much to "see" how notes in the PRV would translate to a staff. In some ways, the PRV can be more intuitive because note length is literally the length of  the note.
 
Regards,
Dan

Staff view has long been a bone of contention with the few that use it.  From what I understand, it's not a well-used feature and thus isn't a high priority for development.
Like Dan mentioned, PRV is has some great features for writing, and is what I use.
 
I've been using Sonar/ Cakewalk products for around 15 years, and find writing to be anything but a nightmare.  Perhaps I've just developed my workflow to suit the software, but the flexibility and simplicity are very beneficial.

Or perhaps try inserting notes in a separate notation program and importing the midi into Sonar. I know it's not ideal but then you're using programs that are excellent in what they respectively do. I've used Sonar's notation as well and, I agree, it's somewhat painful. I wish Gibson would buy Finale.

I can't imagine composing anything requiring "a few thousand notes" by clicking in staff view.

For viewing an arrangement, the staff view can be useful.  But for data entry, meh!
 
Much easier to enter notes in PRV.  Or another editor ...