Help with Chessbase

I can enter variations, but how do you enter letters and tree structures in ChessBase, i.e., a) 2.c4

 This is how the notation looks after GM Nigel Davies enters the moves into ChessBase during a video lecture.

1.e4

 [1.d4 d6 2.e4

 1.c4 d6]

   a) 2.c4  e5 3.Nf3 (3.Nc3 exd4; 3.d5; 3.dxe5; 3.e3) 3...e4;

   b) 2.Nf3 g6 3.c4 Bg7 4.Nc3 (4.g3 c5)

   c) 2.g3;

1...d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6

---

This is how it looks when I enter moves into ChessBase.  

1.e4

[1.d4 d6 2.e4 (2.c4 e5 3.Nf3);

1.c4 d6]

1...d6

---

I can copy and paste exactly what GM Nigel Davies has entered into my own ChessBase program, and it looks identical, but I don't know how to create it. What are the key commands for inserting custom tree structures as well as letters that precede the notation? The command, insert text before move, won't give me this: a) 2.c4

BUMP

For Chessbase 10 or 2009 Light Premium, under Tools - Options - Notation, there is a tick box for Paragraphs.  If that is ticked, it should happen automatically as Anthony says.

Thanks for the replies. I may need to contact ChessBase directly for support.

I checked under Tools - Options - Notation and the Paragraphs box is ticked in my ChessBase 2009 Premium Edition.

I can get some automatic trees, but not always, and not as organized as the ones that Nigel Davies creates.

It really makes one's own opening repertoire much easier to view. That is my main motivation behind this topic on ChessBase.

Also, I have no idea how Nigel Davies is getiing an underlined letter followed by the notation. 

Example:

a) 2.c4  

b) 2.Nf3

c) 2.g3

Can anyone here get the above to happen for them in either ChessBase 10 or ChessBase 2009 Premium and how? Thank you.

The underlining is also automatic if as Anthony says you make the various lines long enough.  You could try leaving a question for Steve Lopez on the Chess Exchange forum.

I've also wondered about this. It seems like Chessbase will just "do it for you" when it thinks its important. I also would like to color-code annotations. This can be useful if you go over a game more than once.

For example, right after the game, you enter your thoughts on each move. Then, you later go over the game with an engine. Then, even later, you go over the game with your [Grandmaster] coach. Would be nice if all were in different colors... somehow... but Chessbase is sort of a festering pile of late 20th-century code...

To colour code a variation, just right click on the first move of the line, and then select Special Annotation - Variation color from the pop-up menu.  I tend to just put the name of the annotator at the end of the line though.

Thanks, that's good to know.

But what if you're just writing down statements on the position... like

"I played a4 because I was worried about any black counterplay starting with ...b5"

Then later: "The computer had a4 scoring .4 points away from optimal"

And even later: "My trainer, Mark Dvoretsky, says that a4 is not good because of the long-term weakness at b3"

All of these are annotating the move a4, and it would be nice to have them in different color.

Mark Dvoretsky is your trainer? I could have sworn he said he wasn't training anyone right now in that interview he gave on Chessvibes the other day.  You saw the interview, and gave him a call, did you?  I'm glad to hear he is back at work training young talent.

I think the colour coding only affects a particular move and any text comments or other moves that follow that first move.

Thanks for the link.

Underlining is also automatic?  I could try selecting default settings, just in case something did happen to stop these automatic aspects of the program.

I've seen Nigel Davies tap at his keyboard and then immediately see the underlined notation, so I believe there are some keyboard commands that can override the automatic settings.

I do know how to add color to variations. Right clicking brings up a menu with many possibilities, however, the underlining feature is not one of them. I've clicked on everything.

It is automatic, but you do need to nest four times or more before the underlining will appear, ie. enter a subvariation within a subvariation within a variation off from the game notation main line.

I finally got the underlined notation and it was automatic after I ticked the box for Alternative Format under Tools - Options - Notation. Thank You.

I have Alternative Format unticked, but I'm still getting the underlining.  Anyway, glad you've found a solution that works for you.