diff --git a/autoPyLoT.py b/autoPyLoT.py
index 84d24dea..a5ca4035 100755
--- a/autoPyLoT.py
+++ b/autoPyLoT.py
@@ -353,7 +353,7 @@ def autoPyLoT(input_dict=None, parameter=None, inputfile=None, fnames=None, even
             if evt is not None:
                 data.applyEVTData(evt, 'event')
             fnqml = '%s/PyLoT_%s' % (event, evID)
-            data.exportEvent(fnqml)
+            data.exportEvent(fnqml, fnext='.xml', fcheck='manual')
             # HYPO71
             hypo71file = '%s/PyLoT_%s_HYPO71_phases' % (event, evID)
             hypo71.export(picks, hypo71file, parameter)
diff --git a/pylot/core/io/data.py b/pylot/core/io/data.py
index eb424094..4b1f5018 100644
--- a/pylot/core/io/data.py
+++ b/pylot/core/io/data.py
@@ -145,12 +145,13 @@ class Data(object):
         # handle forbidden filenames especially on windows systems
         return fnConstructor(str(ID))
 
-    def exportEvent(self, fnout, fnext='.xml'):
+    def exportEvent(self, fnout, fnext='.xml', fcheck='auto'):
 
         """
 
         :param fnout:
         :param fnext:
+        :param fcheck:
         :raise KeyError:
         """
         from pylot.core.util.defaults import OUTPUTFORMATS
@@ -161,13 +162,35 @@ class Data(object):
             errmsg = '{0}; selected file extension {1} not ' \
                      'supported'.format(e, fnext)
             raise FormatError(errmsg)
+   
+        # check for already existing xml-file
+        if fnext == '.xml':
+            if os.path.isfile(fnout + fnext):
+                print("xml-file already exists! Check content ...")
+                cat_old = read_events(fnout + fnext)
+                checkflag = 0
+                for j in range(len(cat_old.events[0].picks)):
+                   if cat_old.events[0].picks[j].method_id.id.split('/')[1] == fcheck:
+                      print("Found %s pick(s), append to new catalog." % fcheck)
+                      checkflag = 1
+                      break
+                if checkflag == 1:
+                    self.get_evt_data().write(fnout + fnext, format=evtformat)
+                    cat_new = read_events(fnout + fnext)
+                    cat_new.append(cat_old.events[0])
+                    cat_new.write(fnout + fnext, format=evtformat)
+                else:
+                    self.get_evt_data().write(fnout + fnext, format=evtformat)
+            else:
+                self.get_evt_data().write(fnout + fnext, format=evtformat)
 
         # try exporting event via ObsPy
-        try:
-            self.get_evt_data().write(fnout + fnext, format=evtformat)
-        except KeyError as e:
-            raise KeyError('''{0} export format
-                              not implemented: {1}'''.format(evtformat, e))
+        else:
+            try:
+                self.get_evt_data().write(fnout + fnext, format=evtformat)
+            except KeyError as e:
+                raise KeyError('''{0} export format
+                                  not implemented: {1}'''.format(evtformat, e))
 
     def getComp(self):
         """