STRTOFILE() is much better in this case. You can also write a small wrapper function Write2Log around it to handle repeating pieces.

lcLogFile = app_dir + 'auto_launch_' + DTOC(DATE(),1) + '.txt'
lcCrLf = CHR(13) + CHR(10)

...
log_file_entry = TIME()+'   '+DTOC(DATE())+'   '+process_to_run
STRTOFILE(log_file_entry + lcCrLf, lcLogFile, 1)
...

>Attempting to create and maintain a log file (.txt) and am using the following commands with code:
>
>SET ALTERNATE ON
>SET ALTERNATE TO
>SET ALTERNATE TO '&app_dir'+'auto_launch_'+CHRTRAN(DTOC(DATE()),'/','')+'.txt' ADDITIVE
>
>then
>
> tasks(lp_cntr,10) = DATE()
> log_file_entry = SPACE(200)
> log_file_entry = TIME()+' '+DTOC(DATE())+' '+process_to_run
> ? '&log_file_entry'
>
>The desired text is displayed on the Foxpro window and not written to file.
>
>