Reference Guide

90 Introduction
SONAR basics
X-Ray windows
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 a keyboard shortcut (default shortcut is 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:
• AudioSnap palette
• 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.
3. Once you’ve 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
Note: For best results with X-Ray Windows, avoid using ALT key combinations.