diff --git a/.vscode/c_cpp_properties.json b/.vscode/c_cpp_properties.json
index 5f736c4..fbcbb51 100644
--- a/.vscode/c_cpp_properties.json
+++ b/.vscode/c_cpp_properties.json
@@ -16,14 +16,14 @@
             ],
             "intelliSenseMode": "gcc-x64",
             "includePath": [
-                "C:\\Users\\swp791\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\arduino\\hardware\\avr\\1.8.6\\cores\\arduino",
-                "C:\\Users\\swp791\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\arduino\\hardware\\avr\\1.8.6\\variants\\mega",
+                "C:\\Users\\swp791\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\arduino\\hardware\\avr\\1.8.7\\cores\\arduino",
+                "C:\\Users\\swp791\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\arduino\\hardware\\avr\\1.8.7\\variants\\mega",
                 "c:\\users\\swp791\\appdata\\local\\arduino15\\packages\\arduino\\tools\\avr-gcc\\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7\\lib\\gcc\\avr\\7.3.0\\include",
                 "c:\\users\\swp791\\appdata\\local\\arduino15\\packages\\arduino\\tools\\avr-gcc\\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7\\lib\\gcc\\avr\\7.3.0\\include-fixed",
                 "c:\\users\\swp791\\appdata\\local\\arduino15\\packages\\arduino\\tools\\avr-gcc\\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7\\avr\\include"
             ],
             "forcedInclude": [
-                "C:\\Users\\swp791\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\arduino\\hardware\\avr\\1.8.6\\cores\\arduino\\Arduino.h"
+                "C:\\Users\\swp791\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\arduino\\hardware\\avr\\1.8.7\\cores\\arduino\\Arduino.h"
             ],
             "cStandard": "c11",
             "cppStandard": "c++11",
diff --git a/mainCode/logData.pde b/mainCode/logData.pde
index 9db4034..252aaf7 100644
--- a/mainCode/logData.pde
+++ b/mainCode/logData.pde
@@ -4,15 +4,18 @@ public void initLogFile() {
   textFieldFileDirInput = textFieldFileDir.getText() + OsDirChar;
   fileDirectory = textFieldFileDirInput + fileNameInput + ".log";
   fileDirectoryReplaced = fileDirectory.replace("\\", "/");
+
   try {
     File logFile = new File(fileDirectoryReplaced);
     // Creating File
     if (logFile.createNewFile()) {
+      logFileExists = false;
       textAreaMainMsg("\n", "File created: " + textFieldFileDirInput + logFile.getName(), "");
       systemPrintln("File created: " + textFieldFileDirInput + logFile.getName());
-    } else {
-      textAreaMainMsg("\n", "File already exists. ", "");
-      systemPrintln("File already exists.");
+    } else if (logFile.exists()) {
+      logFileExists = true;
+      textAreaMainMsg("\n", "File already exists: " + textFieldFileDirInput + logFile.getName(), "");
+      systemPrintln("File already exists: " + textFieldFileDirInput + logFile.getName());
     }
   }
   catch (IOException e) {
@@ -22,8 +25,7 @@ public void initLogFile() {
   }
 
   try {
-    //create file writer
-    Writer = new FileWriter(fileDirectoryReplaced);
+    Writer = new FileWriter(fileDirectoryReplaced, true);
     initLogFileOk = true;
     logData = true;
     textAreaMainMsg("\n", "Logging data to. " + fileDirectory, "");
@@ -38,7 +40,8 @@ public void initLogFile() {
 public void writeToFile(String data) {
   if (logData == true && dataLogPause == false) {
     try {
-      Writer.write(data);
+      Writer.append(data);
+      //Writer.write(data);
       Writer.flush();
       loggingData = true;
     }
@@ -47,3 +50,4 @@ public void writeToFile(String data) {
     }
   }
 }
+
diff --git a/mainCode/settingsWindowUI.pde b/mainCode/settingsWindowUI.pde
index e0abf72..22f521e 100644
--- a/mainCode/settingsWindowUI.pde
+++ b/mainCode/settingsWindowUI.pde
@@ -439,6 +439,7 @@ void drawLogConfig() {
     //action performed event handler
     public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent actionEvent) {
       if (loggingData == false) {
+        dataLogPause = false;
         initLogFile();
       }
       systemPrintln("buttonStartLog clicked" + " @ " + millis());
@@ -461,7 +462,7 @@ void drawLogConfig() {
     //action performed event handler
     public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent actionEvent) {
       try {
-        if (loggingData) {
+        if (loggingData || dataLogPause) {
           Writer.flush();
           Writer.close();
           Writer = null;
@@ -470,7 +471,7 @@ void drawLogConfig() {
           loggingData = false;
         }
       }
-      catch (IOException e) {
+      catch (Exception e) {
         textAreaMainMsg("\n", "Failed to stop logging data. " + e, "");
       }
       systemPrintln("buttonStopLog clicked" + " @ " + millis());
diff --git a/mainCode/variables.pde b/mainCode/variables.pde
index 009f7f4..55bdf0d 100644
--- a/mainCode/variables.pde
+++ b/mainCode/variables.pde
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ int prevCommandsIndex = 0; //count of up key presses for previous command retrie
 
 char selectedParity = 'N'; //serial port parity 'N' for none, 'E' for even, 'O' for odd, 'M' for mark, 'S' for space ('N' is the default)
 
+boolean showDebugStatements = true; //if true show debug statements in console
 boolean connectToCOM = false;          //if connecting to com port
 boolean connectedToCOM = false;        //if connected to com port
 boolean loggingData = false ;          //if logging succeeded
@@ -28,7 +29,7 @@ boolean portsFound = false;
 boolean textAreaMainMsgIsRunning = false;
 boolean textFieldSearchHasText = false; //if textFieldSearch has text other than prompt text
 boolean serialPortRemoved = false; //if serial port was removed while connected
-boolean showDebugStatements = false; //if true show debug statements in console
+boolean logFileExists = false; //if log file already exists when creating log file
 
 boolean mainUiInit, settingsUiInit, drawPortConfigInit, drawDataConfigInit, drawLogConfigInit = false; //if UI has been initialized
 boolean commandFound = false; //true if entered command is a valid command