diff --git a/PyLoT.py b/PyLoT.py
index db6856b6..d260b4e9 100755
--- a/PyLoT.py
+++ b/PyLoT.py
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ https://www.iconfinder.com/iconsets/flavour
 
 import argparse
 import json
+import logging
 import os
 import platform
 import shutil
@@ -113,11 +114,7 @@ class MainWindow(QMainWindow):
     def __init__(self, parent=None, infile=None, reset_qsettings=False):
         super(MainWindow, self).__init__(parent)
 
-        # check for default pylot.in-file
-        if not infile:
-            infile = os.path.join(os.path.expanduser('~'), '.pylot', 'pylot.in')
-            print('Using default input file {}'.format(infile))
-        if os.path.isfile(infile) is False:
+        if infile and os.path.isfile(infile) is False:
             infile = QFileDialog().getOpenFileName(caption='Choose PyLoT-input file')[0]
 
             if not os.path.exists(infile):
@@ -253,7 +250,7 @@ class MainWindow(QMainWindow):
             self._inputs.reset_defaults()
             # check for default pylot.in-file
             infile = os.path.join(pylot_config_dir, '.pylot.in')
-            print('Using default input file {}'.format(infile))
+            logging.warning('Using default input file {}'.format(infile))
             self._inputs.export2File(infile)
         self.infile = infile
 
diff --git a/autoPyLoT.py b/autoPyLoT.py
index 0a801286..506025c5 100755
--- a/autoPyLoT.py
+++ b/autoPyLoT.py
@@ -119,13 +119,9 @@ def autoPyLoT(input_dict=None, parameter=None, inputfile=None, fnames=None, even
             obspyDMT_wfpath = input_dict['obspyDMT_wfpath']
 
     if not parameter:
-        if inputfile:
-            parameter = PylotParameter(inputfile)
-            # iplot = parameter['iplot']
-        else:
-            infile = os.path.join(os.path.expanduser('~'), '.pylot', 'pylot.in')
-            print('Using default input file {}'.format(infile))
-            parameter = PylotParameter(infile)
+        if not inputfile:
+            print('Using default input parameter')
+        parameter = PylotParameter(inputfile)
     else:
         if not type(parameter) == PylotParameter:
             print('Wrong input type for parameter: {}'.format(type(parameter)))
diff --git a/pylot/core/io/data.py b/pylot/core/io/data.py
index b085d181..16107ace 100644
--- a/pylot/core/io/data.py
+++ b/pylot/core/io/data.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
 import copy
+import logging
 import os
 
 from PySide2.QtWidgets import QMessageBox
@@ -408,18 +409,16 @@ class Data(object):
                                      not implemented: {1}'''.format(evtformat, e))
             if fnext == '_focmec.in':
                 try:
-                    infile = os.path.join(os.path.expanduser('~'), '.pylot', 'pylot.in')
-                    print('Using default input file {}'.format(infile))
-                    parameter = PylotParameter(infile)
+                    parameter = PylotParameter()
+                    logging.warning('Using default input parameter')
                     focmec.export(picks_copy, fnout + fnext, parameter, eventinfo=self.get_evt_data())
                 except KeyError as e:
                     raise KeyError('''{0} export format
                                      not implemented: {1}'''.format(evtformat, e))
             if fnext == '.pha':
                 try:
-                    infile = os.path.join(os.path.expanduser('~'), '.pylot', 'pylot.in')
-                    print('Using default input file {}'.format(infile))
-                    parameter = PylotParameter(infile)
+                    parameter = PylotParameter()
+                    logging.warning('Using default input parameter')
                     hypodd.export(picks_copy, fnout + fnext, parameter, eventinfo=self.get_evt_data())
                 except KeyError as e:
                     raise KeyError('''{0} export format
diff --git a/pylot/core/io/phases.py b/pylot/core/io/phases.py
index 34dd1677..3c50d131 100644
--- a/pylot/core/io/phases.py
+++ b/pylot/core/io/phases.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 import glob
+import logging
 import os
 import warnings
 
@@ -217,7 +218,7 @@ def picksdict_from_obs(fn):
     return picks
 
 
-def picksdict_from_picks(evt):
+def picksdict_from_picks(evt, parameter=None):
     """
     Takes an Event object and return the pick dictionary commonly used within
     PyLoT
@@ -230,6 +231,7 @@ def picksdict_from_picks(evt):
         'auto': {}
     }
     for pick in evt.picks:
+        errors = None
         phase = {}
         station = pick.waveform_id.station_code
         if pick.waveform_id.channel_code is None:
@@ -273,32 +275,28 @@ def picksdict_from_picks(evt):
         phase['epp'] = epp
         phase['lpp'] = lpp
         phase['spe'] = spe
-        try:
-            phase['weight'] = weight
-        except:
-            # get onset weight from uncertainty
-            infile = os.path.join(os.path.expanduser('~'), '.pylot', 'pylot.in')
-            print('Using default input file {}'.format(infile))
-            parameter = PylotParameter(infile)
+        weight = phase.get('weight')
+        if not weight:
+            if not parameter:
+                logging.warning('Using ')
+                logging.warning('Using default input parameter')
+                parameter = PylotParameter()
             pick.phase_hint = identifyPhase(pick.phase_hint)
             if pick.phase_hint == 'P':
                 errors = parameter['timeerrorsP']
             elif pick.phase_hint == 'S':
                 errors = parameter['timeerrorsS']
-            weight = get_quality_class(spe, errors)
-            phase['weight'] = weight
+            if errors:
+                weight = get_quality_class(spe, errors)
+                phase['weight'] = weight
         phase['channel'] = channel
         phase['network'] = network
         phase['picker'] = pick_method
-        try:
-            if pick.polarity == 'positive':
-                phase['fm'] = 'U'
-            elif pick.polarity == 'negative':
-                phase['fm'] = 'D'
-            else:
-                phase['fm'] = 'N'
-        except:
-            print("No FM info available!")
+        if pick.polarity == 'positive':
+            phase['fm'] = 'U'
+        elif pick.polarity == 'negative':
+            phase['fm'] = 'D'
+        else:
             phase['fm'] = 'N'
         phase['filter_id'] = filter_id if filter_id is not None else ''