Why Component Groups Transform Your Workflow
Component groups are your solution for creating professional, organized quotations while dramatically reducing manual work. Think of them as modular service packages that bundle frequently used "other components" together, eliminating repetitive clicking and ensuring nothing gets forgotten.
Time Savings: Instead of adding scaffolding materials, scaffolding work, and safety equipment individually to every project, create one "Scaffolding Package" group and add everything with a single click.
What Makes Groups Different
Groups are the smallest modular units in Eturnity's organizational system:
Groups: Bundle other components only (installation costs, services, accessories)
Main Component Templates: Combine one main component + other components
Project Templates: Pre-configure entire systems with all components
Understanding Component Groups
What Groups Contain
Groups can only contain other components - never main components like PV modules or inverters. Perfect for:
Service packages: Installation, commissioning, maintenance
Accessory bundles: Cables, mounting hardware, safety equipment
Administrative items: Travel costs, permits, documentation
Seasonal additions: Scaffolding, weather protection, special access
Common Use Cases
Replacing Solar Calculator Generic Costs: When projects come from the solar calculator, they often show generic "variable costs." Groups let you replace this with professional, itemized service lists.
Service Add-ons: Create standardized packages for services that aren't always needed but frequently requested - scaffolding, electrical upgrades, or specialized installation requirements.
Regional Requirements: Bundle components required by local regulations or common in your area into easy-to-apply packages.
Creating Your First Component Group
Prerequisites
Administrator role with library editing permissions
"Other components" already created for the items you want to group
Clear understanding of which components frequently go together
Step-by-Step Creation
Navigate to Library > Groups in the main menu
Click Add group in the toolbar (top right, next to the filters)
Configure the basic group settings:
Technology: Select the technology this group applies to (Photovoltaics, Heating, etc.)
Group Name: Choose a clear, descriptive name (e.g., "Scaffolding Package," "Standard Installation Services")
Description: Add optional details explaining what this group contains
Optional: Check "Use as collective position" right away if this group should later appear on the PDF quotation as a bundled item with a bold main heading (see Advanced Feature: Collective Positions below). You can also enable this later at any time.
Add components to your group:
Click Add Component in the "Other Components" section
Select components from your library
Set default quantities for each component
Arrange components in logical order using drag-and-drop
Save your group
Example: Creating a "Scaffolding Package"
Let's create a comprehensive scaffolding group:
Group Name: "Scaffolding Package"
Technology: Photovoltaics
Components to include:
Scaffolding materials (quantity: 1)
Scaffolding labor/setup (quantity: 8 hours)
Safety equipment rental (quantity: 1)
Scaffolding removal (quantity: 4 hours)
Now when projects require scaffolding, you'll add the complete package instead of four separate line items.
Using Groups in Projects
Adding Groups to Bills of Materials
Open any project and navigate to the Bill of Materials tab
Click Add Group (instead of Add Component)
Select your desired group from the list
The group and all its components are added automatically
Adjust individual quantities if needed for this specific project
For collective positions: The heading name can be renamed directly in the Bill of Materials by clicking it, without changing the library group. The "Show sub positions on PDF" and "Show prices of sub positions on PDF" display options, plus an optional description (appears on the PDF "Detailed costs" page), can also be overridden per project, independent of the library defaults.
When to Use Groups vs Individual Components
Use Groups when:
You frequently add the same combination of components
Components are logically related (all part of one service)
You want consistent pricing across projects
Professional presentation is important
Use Individual Components when:
You need only one specific item
Quantities vary significantly between projects
Components don't logically belong together
Advanced Feature: Collective Positions
Collective positions enhance how groups appear in PDF quotations, providing better organization and professional presentation.
Understanding Collective Positions
Any group can be converted to a collective position, which changes how it displays:
Regular Group: Shows all components as individual line items
Collective Position: Shows main group heading with sub-items nested underneath
Configuring Collective Positions
There are two ways to turn a group into a collective position:
Right at creation: In the "Create new group" dialog, check "Use as collective position" before clicking "Add"
Later, for an existing group:
Open an existing group for editing
Check "Use as collective position"
Either way, then configure the display options:
"Show sub positions on PDF": Display individual components under the main heading
"Show prices of sub positions on PDF": Include individual component prices or show only total
You can set these display options here in the library as defaults, and also override them later per project in the Bill of Materials (see "Adding Groups to Bills of Materials" above).
Save your changes.
Note: The "Use as collective position" checkbox is disabled if the group already contains a nested collective position, if the group is already used inside another group, or if your license plan doesn't include this feature.
PDF Presentation Benefits
In your PDF quotations, collective positions appear with:
Bold main heading: The group name stands out
Indented sub-items: Components clearly belong to the group
Flexible pricing: Show individual prices or group total only
Professional structure: Organized, easy-to-read format
Optional description: Additionally appears on the PDF "Detailed costs" page
When to Use Collective Positions
Best for:
Complex service packages with many components
When client expects detailed breakdown
Heating systems with extensive component lists
Premium service offerings requiring professional presentation
Skip for:
Simple 2-3 component groups
When simplicity is preferred
Basic residential PV installations
Managing and Editing Groups
Organizing Your Groups Library
Keep your groups library manageable:
Use clear naming: "Premium Installation Package" not "Package 1"
Technology-specific: Separate groups by technology type
Regular reviews: Update or remove outdated groups
Standardize quantities: Use realistic default quantities
Editing Existing Groups
Navigate to Library > Groups
Click on any group name to open it
Modify components, quantities, or descriptions
Use Edit Mode to make changes
Save when complete
Adding Components to Existing Groups
Open the group for editing
Click Add Component in the Other Components section
Select additional components from your library
Set appropriate quantities
Reorder using drag-and-drop if needed
Save your changes
Removing Components
To remove components from a group:
Enter Edit Mode for the group
Click the delete icon next to unwanted components
Confirm the removal
Save changes
⚠️ Important: Changes to groups affect future uses but don't modify existing projects. Projects retain their component lists as they were when the group was added.
Best Practices and Optimization
Strategic Group Planning
Start with your most common add-ons:
Analyze your last 20 projects
Identify components that appear together frequently
Create groups for 80% of your recurring service combinations
Think modular: Create groups that can combine well:
"Basic Installation Services" (always needed)
"Scaffolding Package" (sometimes needed)
"Premium Commissioning" (upgrade option)
Avoiding Common Mistakes
Don't over-group: Simple 1-2 component combinations may not need groups
Avoid main components: Groups are for "other components" only
Don't duplicate project template content: Use groups for add-ons, not core system components
Keep quantities realistic: Use typical quantities, not maximums
Troubleshooting and Support
Common Issues and Solutions
Group not appearing in project:
Check technology matching (group technology must match project technology)
Verify group contains components (empty groups don't show)
Refresh the project page
Cannot edit group:
Ensure Administrator role and library editing permissions
Check if group is being used in active projects (some restrictions may apply)
Components missing from group:
Verify components exist in library and are active
Check technology associations match
Ensure components are "Other Components" not main components
Performance Considerations
Limit group size: 10-15 components maximum for best performance
Regular cleanup: Remove unused groups to keep library manageable
Technology-specific: Don't create generic groups for all technologies