# Performance task preferences

The [Performance task](https://help.easy-pv.co.uk/books/performance-and-consumption/page/performance-task "Performance task") can be streamlined by configuring your settings in **My account** > **Preferences** > **Performance**. Here you have the option to configure whether you want panel allocation and the generation of sunpath diagrams and shading factors to be automated.

### Panel allocation

Choose between:

- **Automatically allocate panels**: use auto-stringing to automatically make a string plan without any input needed from you.
- **Suggest allocation**: use auto-stringing to make a string plan which it will suggest for you to accept or edit manually.
- **Manually allocate panels**: manually construct your string plan, with the option to use auto-stringing when you do so.

### Sunpaths

With 3D and Magic design mode, by modelling any nearby obstructions, Easy PV can automatically calculate any shading losses. Here you can choose whether you want Easy PV to **automatically calculate shading based on the terrain and 3D buildings** or whether you want this to be excluded so you can set the shading manually.

### Self-consumption and performance

Choose between methods to calculate the total annual generation of the system

<p class="callout warning">Changing the performance mode used with affect **all projects**. If you would like to just use international calculations for odd jobs, we recommend doing so on a separate account so your MCS jobs are unaffected. </p>

- **MCS** (UK only): This is based on the method detailed in Appendix B of [MIS 3002: The Solar PV Standard (Installation)](https://mcscertified.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/MIS-3002_Solar-PV-Systems-V5.0-Final-for-publication.pdf) and will only work for UK postcodes.
- **NREL**: This method is based on [NREL's PVWatts calculator](https://pvwatts.nrel.gov/), this is an international method that works for any location.
- **PVGIS**: This is another international option that is based on PVGIS data so will work for any location.

<p class="callout info">The following settings are only available on the UK version of Easy PV ([easy-pv.co.uk](https://easy-pv.co.uk/)).</p>

If selecting the MCS method, you can also choose whether you want to:

- **Set default values for MCS self consumption**: this will let you set default values which will be used by default for each of the inputs required for the MCS consumption calculations.
- **Manually enter MCS self consumption**: if you select this option you will need to set the inputs required for the MCS calculations on every project.