diff --git a/PyLoT.py b/PyLoT.py
index f972c73a..7e6160ff 100755
--- a/PyLoT.py
+++ b/PyLoT.py
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ class MainWindow(QMainWindow):
                     settings.setValue('useGuiFilter', False)
                 if settings.value('output/Format', None) is None:
                     outformat = QInputDialog.getText(self,
-                                                     "Enter output format (*.xml, *.cnv, *.obs, *.focmec):",
+                                                     "Enter output format (*.xml, *.cnv, *.obs, *.focmec, *.pha):",
                                                      "Format")
                     settings.setValue("output/Format", outformat)
                 if settings.value('autoFilter', None) is None:
@@ -1481,7 +1481,7 @@ class MainWindow(QMainWindow):
             self.set_fname(self.get_data().getEventFileName(), type)
         return self.get_fnames(type)
 
-    def saveData(self, event=None, directory=None, outformats=['.xml', '.cnv', '.obs', '.focmec']):
+    def saveData(self, event=None, directory=None, outformats=['.xml', '.cnv', '.obs', '.focmec', '.pha']):
         '''
         Save event data to directory with specified output formats.
         :param event: PyLoT Event, if not set current event will be used
diff --git a/pylot/core/io/data.py b/pylot/core/io/data.py
index b472ad8c..76f5e0c6 100644
--- a/pylot/core/io/data.py
+++ b/pylot/core/io/data.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ from PySide.QtGui import QMessageBox
 
 import pylot.core.loc.velest as velest
 import pylot.core.loc.focmec as focmec
+import pylot.core.loc.hypodd as hypodd
 from pylot.core.io.phases import readPILOTEvent, picks_from_picksdict, \
     picksdict_from_pilot, merge_picks, PylotParameter
 from pylot.core.util.errors import FormatError, OverwriteError
@@ -232,22 +233,27 @@ class Data(object):
         picks = event.picks
         # remove existing picks
         for j, pick in reversed(list(enumerate(picks))):
-            if picktype in str(pick.method_id.id):
-                picks.pop(j)
-                checkflag = 1
+            try:
+                if picktype in str(pick.method_id.id):
+                    picks.pop(j)
+                    checkflag = 1
+            except AttributeError as e:
+                msg = '{}'.format(e)
+                print(e)
+                checkflag = 0
         if checkflag:
             print("Found %s pick(s), remove them and append new picks to catalog." % picktype)
 
-        # append new picks
-        for pick in self.get_evt_data().picks:
-            if picktype in str(pick.method_id.id):
-                picks.append(pick)
+            # append new picks
+            for pick in self.get_evt_data().picks:
+                if picktype in str(pick.method_id.id):
+                    picks.append(pick)
                 
     def exportEvent(self, fnout, fnext='.xml', fcheck='auto', upperErrors=None):
         """
         Export event to file
         :param fnout: basename of file
-        :param fnext: file extension, xml, cnv, obs, focmec
+        :param fnext: file extensions xml, cnv, obs, focmec, or/and pha
         :param fcheck: check and delete existing information
         can be a str or a list of strings of ['manual', 'auto', 'origin', 'magnitude']
         """
@@ -369,6 +375,15 @@ class Data(object):
                 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)
+                    hypodd.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))
 
     def getComp(self):
         """
diff --git a/pylot/core/io/phases.py b/pylot/core/io/phases.py
index d2735ad5..f657bea4 100644
--- a/pylot/core/io/phases.py
+++ b/pylot/core/io/phases.py
@@ -291,7 +291,6 @@ def picksdict_from_picks(evt):
         phase['filter_id'] = filter_id if filter_id is not None else ''
 
         onsets[pick.phase_hint] = phase.copy()
-        #picksdict[picker][station] = onsets.copy()
         picksdict[station] = onsets.copy()
     return picksdict
 
@@ -757,7 +756,7 @@ def writephases(arrivals, fformat, filename, parameter=None, eventinfo=None):
                         fid.write('%-4sS%d%6.2f\n' % (stat, Sweight, Srt))
         fid.close()
 
-    elif fformat == 'hypoDD':
+    elif fformat == 'HYPODD':
         print("Writing phases to %s for hypoDD" % filename)
         fid = open("%s" % filename, 'w')
         # get event information needed for hypoDD-phase file
@@ -770,6 +769,12 @@ def writephases(arrivals, fformat, filename, parameter=None, eventinfo=None):
             stime.year, stime.month, stime.day, stime.hour, stime.minute, stime.second,
             eventsource['latitude'], eventsource['longitude'], eventsource['depth'] / 1000,
             eventinfo.magnitudes[0]['mag'], eventsource['quality']['standard_error'], hddID))
+        # check whether arrivals are dictionaries (autoPyLoT) or pick object (PyLoT)
+        if isinstance(arrivals, dict) == False:
+            # convert pick object (PyLoT) into dictionary
+            evt = ope.Event(resource_id=eventinfo['resource_id'])
+            evt.picks = arrivals
+            arrivals = picksdict_from_picks(evt)
         for key in arrivals:
             if arrivals[key].has_key('P'):
                 # P onsets
diff --git a/pylot/core/loc/hypodd.py b/pylot/core/loc/hypodd.py
index 1280ad99..c194ed90 100644
--- a/pylot/core/loc/hypodd.py
+++ b/pylot/core/loc/hypodd.py
@@ -25,4 +25,4 @@ def export(picks, fnout, parameter, eventinfo):
     :type eventinfo:  list object
     '''
     # write phases to hypoDD-phase file
-    writephases(picks, 'hypoDD', fnout, parameter, eventinfo)
+    writephases(picks, 'HYPODD', fnout, parameter, eventinfo)
diff --git a/pylot/core/util/defaults.py b/pylot/core/util/defaults.py
index 457b0bcd..ce195b23 100644
--- a/pylot/core/util/defaults.py
+++ b/pylot/core/util/defaults.py
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ TIMEERROR_DEFAULTS = os.path.join(os.path.expanduser('~'),
 OUTPUTFORMATS = {'.xml': 'QUAKEML',
                  '.cnv': 'CNV',
                  '.obs': 'NLLOC_OBS',
-                 '.focmec': 'FOCMEC'}
+                 '.focmec': 'FOCMEC',
+                 '.pha': 'HYPODD'}
 
 LOCTOOLS = dict(nll=nll, hyposat=hyposat, velest=velest, hypo71=hypo71, hypodd=hypodd)