diff --git a/test/02_commands/in.balance-001 b/test/02_commands/in.balance-001
index cedd4f399..8d25c43f4 100644
--- a/test/02_commands/in.balance-001
+++ b/test/02_commands/in.balance-001
@@ -1,49 +1,47 @@
 # 2d circle of particles inside a box with LJ walls
 
-# brick communication, no load balance
-
 timers		off
 variable        b index 0
 
 variable	x index 50
 variable	y index 20
 variable	d index 20
 variable	v index 5
 variable	w index 2
                 
 units		lj
 dimension       2
 atom_style	atomic
 boundary        f f p
 processors	* 1 1
 
 lattice		hex 0.85
 region		box block 0 $x 0 $y -0.5 0.5
 create_box	1 box
 region		circle sphere $(v_d/2+1) $(v_d/2/sqrt(3.0)+1) 0.0 $(v_d/2)
 create_atoms	1 region circle
 mass		1 1.0
 
 velocity	all create 0.5 87287 loop geom
 velocity        all set $v $w 0 sum yes
 
 pair_style	lj/cut 2.5
 pair_coeff	1 1 10.0 1.0 2.5
 
 neighbor	0.3 bin
 neigh_modify	delay 0 every 1 check yes
 
 fix		1 all nve
 
 fix             2 all wall/lj93 xlo 0.0 1 1 2.5 xhi $x 1 1 2.5
 fix             3 all wall/lj93 ylo 0.0 1 1 2.5 yhi $y 1 1 2.5
 
 comm_style      brick
 
 thermo_style    custom step temp epair
 thermo          100
 
 balance		1.0 shift x 10 1.01
 
 info		all
 run		1000
diff --git a/test/02_commands/in.balance-002 b/test/02_commands/in.balance-002
index eb5c17410..83700c72e 100644
--- a/test/02_commands/in.balance-002
+++ b/test/02_commands/in.balance-002
@@ -1,49 +1,47 @@
 # 2d circle of particles inside a box with LJ walls
 
-# tiled communication, no load balance
-
 timers		off
 variable        b index 0
 
 variable	x index 50
 variable	y index 20
 variable	d index 20
 variable	v index 5
 variable	w index 2
                 
 units		lj
 dimension       2
 atom_style	atomic
 boundary        f f p
 processors	* 1 1
 
 lattice		hex 0.85
 region		box block 0 $x 0 $y -0.5 0.5
 create_box	1 box
 region		circle sphere $(v_d/2+1) $(v_d/2/sqrt(3.0)+1) 0.0 $(v_d/2)
 create_atoms	1 region circle
 mass		1 1.0
 
 velocity	all create 0.5 87287 loop geom
 velocity        all set $v $w 0 sum yes
 
 pair_style	lj/cut 2.5
 pair_coeff	1 1 10.0 1.0 2.5
 
 neighbor	0.3 bin
 neigh_modify	delay 0 every 1 check yes
 
 fix		1 all nve
 
 fix             2 all wall/lj93 xlo 0.0 1 1 2.5 xhi $x 1 1 2.5
 fix             3 all wall/lj93 ylo 0.0 1 1 2.5 yhi $y 1 1 2.5
 
 comm_style      tiled
 
 thermo_style    custom step temp epair
 thermo          100
 
 balance		1.0 shift x 20 1.01
 
 info		all
 run		1000
diff --git a/test/02_commands/in.balance-003 b/test/02_commands/in.balance-003
index c2bdee375..c974dbe2e 100644
--- a/test/02_commands/in.balance-003
+++ b/test/02_commands/in.balance-003
@@ -1,49 +1,47 @@
 # 2d circle of particles inside a box with LJ walls
 
-# tiled communication, no load balance
-
 timers		off
 variable        b index 0
 
 variable	x index 50
 variable	y index 20
 variable	d index 20
 variable	v index 5
 variable	w index 2
                 
 units		lj
 dimension       2
 atom_style	atomic
 boundary        f f p
 processors	* 1 1
 
 lattice		hex 0.85
 region		box block 0 $x 0 $y -0.5 0.5
 create_box	1 box
 region		circle sphere $(v_d/2+1) $(v_d/2/sqrt(3.0)+1) 0.0 $(v_d/2)
 create_atoms	1 region circle
 mass		1 1.0
 
 velocity	all create 0.5 87287 loop geom
 velocity        all set $v $w 0 sum yes
 
 pair_style	lj/cut 2.5
 pair_coeff	1 1 10.0 1.0 2.5
 
 neighbor	0.3 bin
 neigh_modify	delay 0 every 1 check yes
 
 fix		1 all nve
 
 fix             2 all wall/lj93 xlo 0.0 1 1 2.5 xhi $x 1 1 2.5
 fix             3 all wall/lj93 ylo 0.0 1 1 2.5 yhi $y 1 1 2.5
 
 comm_style      tiled
 
 thermo_style    custom step temp epair
 thermo          100
 
 balance		1.0 rcb
 
 info		all
 run		1000
diff --git a/test/02_commands/in.comm_style-002 b/test/02_commands/in.balance-004
similarity index 94%
copy from test/02_commands/in.comm_style-002
copy to test/02_commands/in.balance-004
index 0d7604f30..f7cf794bf 100644
--- a/test/02_commands/in.comm_style-002
+++ b/test/02_commands/in.balance-004
@@ -1,47 +1,47 @@
 # 2d circle of particles inside a box with LJ walls
 
-# tiled communication, no load balance
-
 timers		off
 variable        b index 0
 
 variable	x index 50
 variable	y index 20
 variable	d index 20
 variable	v index 5
 variable	w index 2
                 
 units		lj
 dimension       2
 atom_style	atomic
 boundary        f f p
-processors	* 1 1
+processors	* * 1
 
 lattice		hex 0.85
 region		box block 0 $x 0 $y -0.5 0.5
 create_box	1 box
 region		circle sphere $(v_d/2+1) $(v_d/2/sqrt(3.0)+1) 0.0 $(v_d/2)
 create_atoms	1 region circle
 mass		1 1.0
 
 velocity	all create 0.5 87287 loop geom
 velocity        all set $v $w 0 sum yes
 
 pair_style	lj/cut 2.5
 pair_coeff	1 1 10.0 1.0 2.5
 
 neighbor	0.3 bin
 neigh_modify	delay 0 every 1 check yes
 
 fix		1 all nve
 
 fix             2 all wall/lj93 xlo 0.0 1 1 2.5 xhi $x 1 1 2.5
 fix             3 all wall/lj93 ylo 0.0 1 1 2.5 yhi $y 1 1 2.5
 
 comm_style      tiled
 
 thermo_style    custom step temp epair
 thermo          100
 
+balance		1.0 shift xy 20 1.01
+
 info		all
 run		1000
diff --git a/test/02_commands/in.balance-002 b/test/02_commands/in.balance-005
similarity index 94%
copy from test/02_commands/in.balance-002
copy to test/02_commands/in.balance-005
index eb5c17410..408e360e8 100644
--- a/test/02_commands/in.balance-002
+++ b/test/02_commands/in.balance-005
@@ -1,49 +1,47 @@
 # 2d circle of particles inside a box with LJ walls
 
-# tiled communication, no load balance
-
 timers		off
 variable        b index 0
 
 variable	x index 50
 variable	y index 20
 variable	d index 20
 variable	v index 5
 variable	w index 2
                 
 units		lj
 dimension       2
 atom_style	atomic
 boundary        f f p
-processors	* 1 1
+processors	* * 1
 
 lattice		hex 0.85
 region		box block 0 $x 0 $y -0.5 0.5
 create_box	1 box
 region		circle sphere $(v_d/2+1) $(v_d/2/sqrt(3.0)+1) 0.0 $(v_d/2)
 create_atoms	1 region circle
 mass		1 1.0
 
 velocity	all create 0.5 87287 loop geom
 velocity        all set $v $w 0 sum yes
 
 pair_style	lj/cut 2.5
 pair_coeff	1 1 10.0 1.0 2.5
 
 neighbor	0.3 bin
 neigh_modify	delay 0 every 1 check yes
 
 fix		1 all nve
 
 fix             2 all wall/lj93 xlo 0.0 1 1 2.5 xhi $x 1 1 2.5
 fix             3 all wall/lj93 ylo 0.0 1 1 2.5 yhi $y 1 1 2.5
 
 comm_style      tiled
 
 thermo_style    custom step temp epair
 thermo          100
 
 balance		1.0 shift x 20 1.01
 
 info		all
 run		1000
diff --git a/test/02_commands/in.balance-003 b/test/02_commands/in.balance-006
similarity index 91%
copy from test/02_commands/in.balance-003
copy to test/02_commands/in.balance-006
index c2bdee375..230bfa71a 100644
--- a/test/02_commands/in.balance-003
+++ b/test/02_commands/in.balance-006
@@ -1,49 +1,49 @@
 # 2d circle of particles inside a box with LJ walls
 
-# tiled communication, no load balance
-
 timers		off
 variable        b index 0
 
 variable	x index 50
 variable	y index 20
 variable	d index 20
 variable	v index 5
 variable	w index 2
                 
 units		lj
 dimension       2
 atom_style	atomic
 boundary        f f p
-processors	* 1 1
+processors	* * 1
 
 lattice		hex 0.85
 region		box block 0 $x 0 $y -0.5 0.5
 create_box	1 box
 region		circle sphere $(v_d/2+1) $(v_d/2/sqrt(3.0)+1) 0.0 $(v_d/2)
 create_atoms	1 region circle
 mass		1 1.0
 
 velocity	all create 0.5 87287 loop geom
 velocity        all set $v $w 0 sum yes
 
 pair_style	lj/cut 2.5
 pair_coeff	1 1 10.0 1.0 2.5
 
 neighbor	0.3 bin
 neigh_modify	delay 0 every 1 check yes
 
 fix		1 all nve
 
 fix             2 all wall/lj93 xlo 0.0 1 1 2.5 xhi $x 1 1 2.5
 fix             3 all wall/lj93 ylo 0.0 1 1 2.5 yhi $y 1 1 2.5
 
 comm_style      tiled
 
 thermo_style    custom step temp epair
 thermo          100
 
-balance		1.0 rcb
+balance		1.0 shift x 20 1.01 
+
+balance		1.0 x uniform y uniform
 
 info		all
 run		1000
diff --git a/test/02_commands/in.comm_style-001 b/test/02_commands/in.comm_style-001
index e7cc160f6..16bf29fac 100644
--- a/test/02_commands/in.comm_style-001
+++ b/test/02_commands/in.comm_style-001
@@ -1,47 +1,45 @@
 # 2d circle of particles inside a box with LJ walls
 
-# brick communication, no load balance
-
 timers		off
 variable        b index 0
 
 variable	x index 50
 variable	y index 20
 variable	d index 20
 variable	v index 5
 variable	w index 2
                 
 units		lj
 dimension       2
 atom_style	atomic
 boundary        f f p
 processors	* 1 1
 
 lattice		hex 0.85
 region		box block 0 $x 0 $y -0.5 0.5
 create_box	1 box
 region		circle sphere $(v_d/2+1) $(v_d/2/sqrt(3.0)+1) 0.0 $(v_d/2)
 create_atoms	1 region circle
 mass		1 1.0
 
 velocity	all create 0.5 87287 loop geom
 velocity        all set $v $w 0 sum yes
 
 pair_style	lj/cut 2.5
 pair_coeff	1 1 10.0 1.0 2.5
 
 neighbor	0.3 bin
 neigh_modify	delay 0 every 1 check yes
 
 fix		1 all nve
 
 fix             2 all wall/lj93 xlo 0.0 1 1 2.5 xhi $x 1 1 2.5
 fix             3 all wall/lj93 ylo 0.0 1 1 2.5 yhi $y 1 1 2.5
 
 comm_style      brick
 
 thermo_style    custom step temp epair
 thermo          100
 
 info		all
 run		1000
diff --git a/test/02_commands/in.comm_style-002 b/test/02_commands/in.comm_style-002
index 0d7604f30..d67fd024a 100644
--- a/test/02_commands/in.comm_style-002
+++ b/test/02_commands/in.comm_style-002
@@ -1,47 +1,45 @@
 # 2d circle of particles inside a box with LJ walls
 
-# tiled communication, no load balance
-
 timers		off
 variable        b index 0
 
 variable	x index 50
 variable	y index 20
 variable	d index 20
 variable	v index 5
 variable	w index 2
                 
 units		lj
 dimension       2
 atom_style	atomic
 boundary        f f p
 processors	* 1 1
 
 lattice		hex 0.85
 region		box block 0 $x 0 $y -0.5 0.5
 create_box	1 box
 region		circle sphere $(v_d/2+1) $(v_d/2/sqrt(3.0)+1) 0.0 $(v_d/2)
 create_atoms	1 region circle
 mass		1 1.0
 
 velocity	all create 0.5 87287 loop geom
 velocity        all set $v $w 0 sum yes
 
 pair_style	lj/cut 2.5
 pair_coeff	1 1 10.0 1.0 2.5
 
 neighbor	0.3 bin
 neigh_modify	delay 0 every 1 check yes
 
 fix		1 all nve
 
 fix             2 all wall/lj93 xlo 0.0 1 1 2.5 xhi $x 1 1 2.5
 fix             3 all wall/lj93 ylo 0.0 1 1 2.5 yhi $y 1 1 2.5
 
 comm_style      tiled
 
 thermo_style    custom step temp epair
 thermo          100
 
 info		all
 run		1000
diff --git a/test/02_commands/in.comm_style-001 b/test/02_commands/in.processors-001
similarity index 93%
copy from test/02_commands/in.comm_style-001
copy to test/02_commands/in.processors-001
index e7cc160f6..59ae44c53 100644
--- a/test/02_commands/in.comm_style-001
+++ b/test/02_commands/in.processors-001
@@ -1,47 +1,45 @@
 # 2d circle of particles inside a box with LJ walls
 
-# brick communication, no load balance
-
 timers		off
 variable        b index 0
 
 variable	x index 50
 variable	y index 20
 variable	d index 20
 variable	v index 5
 variable	w index 2
                 
 units		lj
 dimension       2
 atom_style	atomic
 boundary        f f p
-processors	* 1 1
+processors	* * 1
 
 lattice		hex 0.85
 region		box block 0 $x 0 $y -0.5 0.5
 create_box	1 box
 region		circle sphere $(v_d/2+1) $(v_d/2/sqrt(3.0)+1) 0.0 $(v_d/2)
 create_atoms	1 region circle
 mass		1 1.0
 
 velocity	all create 0.5 87287 loop geom
 velocity        all set $v $w 0 sum yes
 
 pair_style	lj/cut 2.5
 pair_coeff	1 1 10.0 1.0 2.5
 
 neighbor	0.3 bin
 neigh_modify	delay 0 every 1 check yes
 
 fix		1 all nve
 
 fix             2 all wall/lj93 xlo 0.0 1 1 2.5 xhi $x 1 1 2.5
 fix             3 all wall/lj93 ylo 0.0 1 1 2.5 yhi $y 1 1 2.5
 
 comm_style      brick
 
 thermo_style    custom step temp epair
 thermo          100
 
 info		all
 run		1000
diff --git a/test/02_commands/in.comm_style-001 b/test/02_commands/in.processors-002
similarity index 93%
copy from test/02_commands/in.comm_style-001
copy to test/02_commands/in.processors-002
index e7cc160f6..93c05f96a 100644
--- a/test/02_commands/in.comm_style-001
+++ b/test/02_commands/in.processors-002
@@ -1,47 +1,45 @@
 # 2d circle of particles inside a box with LJ walls
 
-# brick communication, no load balance
-
 timers		off
 variable        b index 0
 
 variable	x index 50
 variable	y index 20
 variable	d index 20
 variable	v index 5
 variable	w index 2
                 
 units		lj
 dimension       2
 atom_style	atomic
 boundary        f f p
-processors	* 1 1
+processors	1 * 1
 
 lattice		hex 0.85
 region		box block 0 $x 0 $y -0.5 0.5
 create_box	1 box
 region		circle sphere $(v_d/2+1) $(v_d/2/sqrt(3.0)+1) 0.0 $(v_d/2)
 create_atoms	1 region circle
 mass		1 1.0
 
 velocity	all create 0.5 87287 loop geom
 velocity        all set $v $w 0 sum yes
 
 pair_style	lj/cut 2.5
 pair_coeff	1 1 10.0 1.0 2.5
 
 neighbor	0.3 bin
 neigh_modify	delay 0 every 1 check yes
 
 fix		1 all nve
 
 fix             2 all wall/lj93 xlo 0.0 1 1 2.5 xhi $x 1 1 2.5
 fix             3 all wall/lj93 ylo 0.0 1 1 2.5 yhi $y 1 1 2.5
 
 comm_style      brick
 
 thermo_style    custom step temp epair
 thermo          100
 
 info		all
 run		1000