diff --git a/src/PreferencesDialog.cpp b/src/PreferencesDialog.cpp
index 966f85b..ed0db28 100644
--- a/src/PreferencesDialog.cpp
+++ b/src/PreferencesDialog.cpp
@@ -14,8 +14,7 @@
 #include <wx/filename.h>
 #include <boost/log/trivial.hpp>
 #include <boost/date_time/posix_time/posix_time.hpp>
-#include <iostream>
-#include <ostream>
+#include <filesystem>
 #include <fstream>
 #include <sstream>
 
@@ -226,20 +225,30 @@ const std::filesystem::path BuildNewConfFilePath() {
 }
 
 void PreferencesDialog::OnActive(wxCommandEvent& evt) {
+    CTRL(wxTreeCtrl, treItems);
+    const TreeItemData *data = (TreeItemData*)treItems->GetItemData(treItems->GetSelection());
+    if (!data->isFile()) {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    if (data->isEditable()) {
+        Save(data->path());
+    }
+
+    const std::filesystem::path p = data->path();
     if (evt.IsChecked()) {
-        CTRL(wxTreeCtrl, treItems);
-        const TreeItemData *data = (TreeItemData*)treItems->GetItemData(treItems->GetSelection());
-        if (data->isFile()) {
-            const std::filesystem::path p = data->path();
-            wxString name = wxFileName::FileName(p.c_str()).GetName();
-            this->active = name;
-            std::cout << "setting current active config file to: " << this->active << std::endl;
-            wxConfigBase::Get()->Write("/ActivePreferences/name", this->active);
-            BuildItemTree(); // invalidates "data" pointer variable
-            PreSelectUserConfigItemName(p);
-        }
+        wxString name = wxFileName::FileName(p.c_str()).GetName();
+        this->active = name;
+        BOOST_LOG_TRIVIAL(info) << "setting current active config file to: " << this->active;
+        wxConfigBase::Get()->Write("/ActivePreferences/name", this->active);
+        BuildItemTree(); // invalidates "data" pointer variable
+        PreSelectUserConfigItemName(p);
     } else {
-        // TODO what if they uncheck the active checkbox?
+        this->active = "";
+        BOOST_LOG_TRIVIAL(info) << "removing active config file from settings";
+        wxConfigBase::Get()->DeleteEntry("/ActivePreferences/name");
+        BuildItemTree(); // invalidates "data" pointer variable
+        PreSelectUserConfigItemName(p);
     }
 }
 
@@ -298,6 +307,7 @@ void PreferencesDialog::OnRename(wxCommandEvent& evt) {
                 wxFileName fn(data->path().c_str());
                 fn.SetName(newname);
                 // TODO should we check for existence of name in built-in (to prevent override)?
+                // TODO handle case when renaming the currently active file
                 if (fn.Exists()) {
                     wxMessageBox("That name is already being used.", "File exists", wxOK|wxCENTER, this);
                 } else {
diff --git a/src/configep2.cpp b/src/configep2.cpp
index d5dfc31..d446085 100644
--- a/src/configep2.cpp
+++ b/src/configep2.cpp
@@ -123,12 +123,12 @@ std::ifstream *Config::openFilePref(const wxString& s_name) {
     BOOST_LOG_TRIVIAL(info) << "config file name was specified as: " << s_name;
     std::filesystem::path path_name = path_from_string(s_name);
     if (path_name.has_parent_path()) {
-        BOOST_LOG_TRIVIAL(error) << "invalid name for config file (paths are not allowed): " << path_name.c_str();
+        BOOST_LOG_TRIVIAL(warning) << "invalid name for config file (paths are not allowed): " << path_name.c_str();
         return ret;
     }
 
     if (path_name.empty()) {
-        BOOST_LOG_TRIVIAL(error) << "invalid: empty name for config file";
+        BOOST_LOG_TRIVIAL(warning) << "invalid: empty name for config file";
         return ret;
     }
 
@@ -191,11 +191,13 @@ static const std::array rs_path_legacy{
 std::ifstream *Config::openFileLegacy() {
     std::ifstream *ret = nullptr;
 
+    BOOST_LOG_TRIVIAL(warning) << "Searching for config file in legacy locations...";
     for (const auto &s_path_legacy : rs_path_legacy) {
         if ((ret = openFileExternal(std::filesystem::path{s_path_legacy})) != nullptr) {
             return ret;
         }
     }
+    BOOST_LOG_TRIVIAL(warning) << "Could not file config file in any legacy locations.";
 
     return ret;
 }
@@ -209,6 +211,8 @@ std::ifstream *Config::openFile() {
     std::ifstream *ret = nullptr;
 
     if (this->file_path.empty()) {
+        BOOST_LOG_TRIVIAL(info) << "No config file specified on command line.";
+
         wxString cname{};
         const bool stored_prefs_found = wxConfigBase::Get()->Read("/ActivePreferences/name", &cname, DEFAULT_CONFIG_NAME);
 
@@ -217,6 +221,7 @@ std::ifstream *Config::openFile() {
             if (ret != nullptr) {
                 return ret;
             }
+            BOOST_LOG_TRIVIAL(warning) << "Could not find the previously chosen active config file: " << cname.wc_str();
 
             if (!this->prefs_only) {
                 ret = openFileLegacy();
@@ -226,6 +231,7 @@ std::ifstream *Config::openFile() {
             }
         } else {
             if (!this->prefs_only) {
+                BOOST_LOG_TRIVIAL(warning) << "User has not specified any active config file.";
                 ret = openFileLegacy();
                 if (ret != nullptr) {
                     return ret;
@@ -237,18 +243,24 @@ std::ifstream *Config::openFile() {
             }
         }
     } else {
+        BOOST_LOG_TRIVIAL(info) << "Config file specified on command line as: " << this->file_path.c_str();
+
         if (!this->prefs_only) {
+            BOOST_LOG_TRIVIAL(info) << "Searching for external configuration file.";
             ret = openFileExternal(this->file_path);
             if (ret != nullptr) {
                 return ret;
             }
         }
+
         ret = openFilePref(this->file_path.c_str());
         if (ret != nullptr) {
             return ret;
         }
     }
 
+    BOOST_LOG_TRIVIAL(warning) << "Could not find any config file.";
+
     return ret;
 }