diff --git a/examples/disc_brake/disc_brake_param_dep_example.py b/examples/disc_brake/disc_brake_param_dep_example.py
index 8bed9fa..ad21a6a 100644
--- a/examples/disc_brake/disc_brake_param_dep_example.py
+++ b/examples/disc_brake/disc_brake_param_dep_example.py
@@ -245,6 +245,17 @@ def main(
         yscale="log",
     )
 
+    # %% plot trajectories
+    use_train_data = False
+    idx_gen = "rand"
+    aphin_vis.plot_time_trajectories_all(
+        disc_brake_data,
+        disc_brake_data_id,
+        use_train_data=use_train_data,
+        idx_gen=idx_gen,
+        result_dir=result_dir,
+    )
+
     # %% 3D plots
     # save each test parameter set as csv
     for i, mu_ in enumerate(disc_brake_data.TEST.Mu):
@@ -368,17 +379,6 @@ def main(
                 close_on_end=True,
             )
 
-    # %% plot trajectories
-    use_train_data = False
-    idx_gen = "rand"
-    aphin_vis.plot_time_trajectories_all(
-        disc_brake_data,
-        disc_brake_data_id,
-        use_train_data=use_train_data,
-        idx_gen=idx_gen,
-        result_dir=result_dir,
-    )
-
 
 # parameter variation for multiple experiment runs
 # requires calc_various_experiments = True
diff --git a/examples/mass_spring_damper/mass_spring_damper.py b/examples/mass_spring_damper/mass_spring_damper.py
index ad03ba8..34fc20b 100755
--- a/examples/mass_spring_damper/mass_spring_damper.py
+++ b/examples/mass_spring_damper/mass_spring_damper.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
     save_weights,
     write_to_experiment_overview,
     save_evaluation_times,
-    save_training_times
+    save_training_times,
 )
 from aphin.utils.print_matrices import print_matrices
 
@@ -75,7 +75,13 @@ def main(config_path_to_file=None):
     cache_path = os.path.join(data_dir, msd_cfg["sim_name"])
 
     # %% Load data
-    msd_data = Dataset.from_data(cache_path)
+    try:
+        msd_data = Dataset.from_data(cache_path)
+    except FileNotFoundError:
+        raise FileNotFoundError(
+            f"File could not be found. If this is the first time you run this example, please execute the data generating script `./state_space_ph/mass_spring_damper_data_gen.py` first."
+        )
+
     # split into train and test data
     msd_data.train_test_split(test_size=msd_cfg["test_size"], seed=msd_cfg["seed"])
     # scale data
@@ -162,7 +168,11 @@ def main(config_path_to_file=None):
 
     msd_data.calculate_errors(msd_data_id, domain_split_vals=[1, 1])
     use_train_data = False
-    aphin_vis.plot_errors(msd_data, use_train_data)
+    aphin_vis.plot_errors(
+        msd_data,
+        use_train_data,
+        save_name=os.path.join(result_dir, "rms_error"),
+    )
 
     msd_data.calculate_errors(msd_data_id, save_to_txt=True, result_dir=result_dir)
 
diff --git a/examples/pendulum/pendulum.py b/examples/pendulum/pendulum.py
index dd6d48b..abb3122 100755
--- a/examples/pendulum/pendulum.py
+++ b/examples/pendulum/pendulum.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
     save_weights,
     write_to_experiment_overview,
     save_training_times,
-    save_evaluation_times
+    save_evaluation_times,
 )
 from aphin.utils.print_matrices import print_matrices
 
@@ -78,7 +78,12 @@ def main(config_path_to_file=None):
     r = pd_cfg[experiment]["r"]
     n_f = pd_cfg["n_n"] * pd_cfg["n_dn"]
     cache_path = os.path.join(data_dir, "pendulum.npz")
-    pendulum_data = Dataset.from_data(cache_path)
+    try:
+        pendulum_data = Dataset.from_data(cache_path)
+    except FileNotFoundError:
+        raise FileNotFoundError(
+            f"File could not be found. If this is the first time you run this example, please execute the data generating script `./pendulum_data_generation.py` first."
+        )
     pendulum_data.train_test_split(test_size=0.333, seed=pd_cfg["seed"])
     pendulum_data.truncate_time(trunc_time_ratio=pd_cfg["trunc_time_ratio"])
     pendulum_data.states_to_features()