What is Basic Mode?
Basic Mode is the fastest way to plan a PV system in Eturnity Expert. It was specifically developed for simple projects where you work in 2D and want to quickly achieve a result.
Advantages of Basic Mode:
Fast and intuitive planning in 2D
Ideal for projects with only one covered roof area
Minimal learning effort – ready to use in a few minutes
Simple 2-step process: Draw roof area → Place panels
💡 When to switch to Pro Mode? If you're covering multiple roof areas, modeling complex roofs, or need a realistic 3D model for your customer presentation, we recommend Pro Mode. More details in the article "Professional 3D Planning with Pro Mode".
Video Tutorial: Basic Mode Step by Step
In this video from our Video Training Center, you'll see the entire process in action:
Step 1: Select the Best Map Material
The quality of your planning depends on the map material used. Before you start drawing, you should always check which map material offers the best quality.
How to select the optimal map material:
Open the map selection on the right side of the screen
Test the various available options:
Orthophotos without distortion enable even more precise models
Germany: BKG Orthophotos
Switzerland: SwissTopo
Austria: Basemap.at
Bing Satellite Images
Google Satellite Images
Watch for these quality features:
Perpendicular view from above (no visible house walls)
No distortions or oblique angles
Good resolution and contrast
⚠️ Common mistake: Satellite images with visible house walls distort the roof and make it harder to draw symmetrically. Orthophotos are always taken perpendicularly from above and contain no distortions – they deliver the most accurate planning results.
Why is this important? Distorted map material leads to asymmetrical roof areas and inaccurate panel counts. Investing 30 seconds in selecting the right map material saves you a lot of correction work later.
Step 2: Draw Roof Area
After selecting the best map material, start drawing the roof area.
Drawing the Roof Area
Select the Roof Tool from the toolbar
Start at a corner of the roof area and draw parallel to the ridge
Use the snap functions:
90° angles snap automatically
Parallel lines are supported by snap points
Close the area with a double-click at the last corner
💡 Pro tip: Snap functions are your best friends when drawing. They help you create rectangular and symmetrical areas without manual measuring. Let the visual hints guide you!
Set Inclination and Direction
After drawing, your roof area has no inclination or direction yet. You'll add these now:
Click on the drawn roof area to select it
On the left you'll see:
Inclination 0°, Direction 0°Click and hold the yellow circle in the center of the area
Drag the circle in the direction the roof is inclined
While dragging, both direction and inclination are set simultaneously
Release the mouse when the desired inclination is reached (e.g., 30°)
Why this approach? This intuitive control allows you to define both the cardinal direction and the inclination angle with a single movement – much faster than separate input fields.
Step 3: Place Panels
Now that your roof area is finished, you can place the panels. Basic Mode offers several methods – from fully automatic to precisely manual.
Method 1: Complete Coverage with Double-Click (Recommended)
The fastest method for most cases:
Select the Panel Field Tool from the toolbar
Make a double-click on the roof area
The entire roof area is automatically covered with panels
Advantage: With a single double-click, your roof area is completely covered – ideal for quick preliminary offers.
Method 2: Draw Individual Panel Fields
If you don't want to cover the entire roof area:
Select the Panel Field Tool
Click once on the desired starting position
Draw the panel field on the roof area
The drawn area is automatically filled with panels
Use case: Useful when you consciously want to use only part of the roof area or leave specific areas clear.
Consider Obstacles
After automatic coverage, you need to exclude obstacles like roof windows, chimneys, or vents:
Click on the Transparency Tool in the upper right
The panels are displayed transparently
You can now see where obstacles are in the way
Select the affected panels
Delete the selected panels with the trash icon
Why make transparent? The transparency function allows you to see the satellite image through the panels. This way you can precisely identify which panels need to be removed without constantly switching between different views.
Adjust Panel Selection
By default, the panels from your project template are used. However, you can change these at any time:
Select the panel field (by clicking on it)
On the left side you'll see the settings:
Panel: Select a different panel from your library
Mounting System: Adjust the mounting system
Additional settings: Depending on panel type and mounting
Changes are immediately applied to the panel field
Multiple Roof Areas in Basic Mode
Basic Mode also allows planning of multiple roof areas. Simply repeat the steps for each additional roof area:
Draw the second roof area
Set inclination and direction
Place the panels
💡 Note: However, for more than one roof area, Pro Mode is recommended in most cases. In Pro Mode, you model the entire building at once, which is often easier and faster than creating each roof area individually in Basic Mode. You also get a realistic 3D model for your customer presentation.
Summary: When to Use Basic Mode?
Basic Mode is the right choice when:
You want to quickly create a preliminary offer
The project has only one roof area or is very simple
You don't need a 3D representation for the customer
You are new to Eturnity Expert and want to start with simple projects
Expected result: With Basic Mode, you can create a complete panel layout in under 5 minutes – from the first line to the fully covered roof with correct panel count.
Next Steps
After mastering the basics of Basic Mode, we recommend these advanced articles:
Professional 3D Planning with Pro Mode – For more complex projects and impressive customer presentations
Drawing and Adjusting Roof Areas to Scale – When you need to implement precise measurements from the on-site visit
Placing Panels Flexibly – Advanced techniques for optimizing your panel fields
The complete Video Training Center – Module 3 contains additional practical examples and shows all functions in detail.