X-Ray

The X-Ray Windows feature eliminates the need to constantly minimize, move, or close windows in order to work in other windows. It works by decreasing the opacity of the current window enough so that you can see and work with the window that’s behind the current window. You activate the feature by pressing SHIFT+X when the mouse cursor is over a window you want to x-ray. You can choose to X-Ray whichever window is underneath the mouse cursor, or automatically X-Ray all FX/synth property pages in one step.

Note: The mouse cursor does not need to be over any plug-in property pages.

The X-Ray Windows feature works on the following windows:

Piano Roll view (when float-enabled)

Plug-in effects and synths

Controller/Surface plug-ins

To select key bindings for X-Ray windows

1.	Use the Edit > Preferences command to open the Preferences dialog box, then select Keyboard Shortcuts.

2.	If you want to use currently unassigned keys or key combinations, scroll through the options in the Key window until the Assigned to field that is just under the window reads Unassigned. It’s a good idea to find two unassigned options that are next to each other or easy to remember.

Note: For best results with X-Ray Windows, avoid using ALT key combinations.

3.	Once you have decided on two keys or key combinations that you want to use, select Global Bindings in the Area field, and scroll to the bottom of the list of commands that are in the window below that field.

4.	In the Key window, highlight the key or key combination that you want to use for the X-Ray command, then highlight X-Ray in the function column of the list of commands, then click the Bind button to bind them together.

5.	Now highlight the key or key combination that you want to use for the X-Ray All FX/Synths command, then highlight X-Ray All FX/Synths in the function column of the list of commands, then click the Bind button to bind them together.

6.	Click OK to close the dialog box.

To use X-Ray windows

1.	Use the Edit > Preferences command to open the Preferences dialog box, click Customization - Display and make sure the Enable X-Ray check box is selected.

2.

Make sure that the view windows you want to X-Ray are in the Floating-enabled state. To check this, click the view or fx icon that’s in the upper left corner of a window, and select Enable Floating from the drop-down menu. If Disable Floating is in the menu, then the Floating option is already enabled.

Note: All FX/Synth/Control surface property pages are float-enabled by default.

3.	To X-Ray or un-X-Ray a single window, move the mouse cursor over the window, and press SHIFT+X for the X-Ray command. The window does not need to be the highlighted window.

4.	To X-Ray or un-X-Ray all plug-in windows at once, press the key binding for the X-Ray All FX/Synths command.

Note: If a window has focus, and the window’s Give All Keystrokes To Plug-in button is enabled, X-Ray keyboard commands won’t work.

To Adjust X-Ray Windows Options

1.	Use the Edit > Preferences command to open the Preferences dialog box, then click Customization - Display.

2.	On the General tab, you can adjust these options:

Enable X-Ray. Enable or disable this check box to turn the X-Ray Windows feature on or off.

Opacity. Adjust this value by typing in a value, or by clicking and holding the + or - button to adjust the final opacity percentage value that an X-Rayed window reaches.

Fade Out Time. Adjust this value by typing in a value, or by clicking and holding the + or - button to adjust the amount of time that an X-Rayed window takes to reach its final opacity percentage value.

Fade In Time. Adjust this value by clicking and holding the + or - button to adjust the amount of time that an X-Rayed window takes to restore its original opacity.

3.	Click OK to close the dialog box and accept your changes.

To exclude a plug-in from X-Ray capability

Very few plug-ins use DirectDraw to create their windows. These windows appear jittery when x-rayed.

To exclude a plug-in from X-Ray capability, follow these steps:

1.	Use the Utilities > Cakewalk Plug- in Manager command to open the Cakewalk Plug-in Manager.

2.	In the Plug-in Categories window, select the plug-in category to exclude.

3.	In the Registered Plug-ins window, select the plug-in to exclude.

4.	If the plug-in is a DirectX effect or an MFX, write down (or select and copy) the CLSID value that’s in the CLSID field at the bottom of the dialog box.

If VST or VSTi, write down the VST ID value that’s in the VST ID field at the bottom of the dialog box.

5.	Close the Plug-in Manager dialog box.

6.	Open the Xrayexclude.ini file that’s in your SONAR program folder (use Notepad).

7.	At the end of the file, find the [EffectProps View] section.

You will see entries such as the following:

; Waves SSL EQ Stereo

XRayExclude11=1397510483

XRayExclude12={E451379E-F7E1-4E82-98D9-BEB87AC45E90}

8.	Exclude your plug-in by creating a blank line below the last entry in the [EffectProps View] section, and then typing:

;[name of your plug-in, but without brackets]

XRayExclude[type the next available number in XRayExclude list, but without brackets]=[VST ID number, with no brackets, or CLSID number, with curly brackets at start and finish]

For example, if the last entry in the [EffectProps View] section was:

; Waves SSL EQ Stereo

XRayExclude11=1397510483

XRayExclude12={E451379E-F7E1-4E82-98D9-BEB87AC45E90}

If you want to exclude the Cakewalk FxDelay from the X-Ray Windows feature, after creating a blank line, type:

; Cakewalk FxDelay

XRayExclude13={985DAF67-589F-4B8D-8BBC-D7AD651B9022}

If there was also a VST version of the Cakewalk FxDelay, you would add another line:

XRayExclude14=[some VST ID number, with no brackets]

9.	Save and close the Xrayexclude.ini file, and restart SONAR to implement your changes.

 

See also:

Window management

Docking windows

MultiDock

Floating views and using dual video monitors

Locking views

Tiling windows

Screensets

View reference