diff --git a/test/fileread/Makefile b/test/fileread/Makefile
index d825eab4..132a2e15 100644
--- a/test/fileread/Makefile
+++ b/test/fileread/Makefile
@@ -18,7 +18,10 @@ ZFOBJS=getp.o  psb_zf_sample.o
 
 EXEDIR=./runs
 
-all: psb_sf_sample psb_df_sample psb_cf_sample psb_zf_sample 
+all: runsd psb_sf_sample psb_df_sample psb_cf_sample psb_zf_sample 
+
+runsd:
+	(if test ! -d runs ; then mkdir runs; fi)
 
 psb_sf_sample.o psb_df_sample.o psb_cf_sample.o psb_zf_sample.o: getp.o
 
diff --git a/test/hello/Makefile b/test/hello/Makefile
index 1a73ff34..6516a868 100644
--- a/test/hello/Makefile
+++ b/test/hello/Makefile
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
-BASEDIR=../..
-INCDIR=$(BASEDIR)/include
+INSTALLDIR=../..
+INCDIR=$(INSTALLDIR)/include
 MODDIR=$(INSTALLDIR)/modules/
 include $(INCDIR)/Make.inc.psblas
 #
 # Libraries used
-LIBDIR=$(BASEDIR)/lib
+LIBDIR=$(INSTALLDIR)/lib
 PSBLAS_LIB= -L$(LIBDIR) -lpsb_util -lpsb_krylov -lpsb_prec -lpsb_base 
 LDLIBS=$(PSBLDLIBS)
 #
@@ -16,7 +16,10 @@ FINCLUDES=$(FMFLAG)$(MODDIR) $(FMFLAG).
 
 EXEDIR=./runs
 
-all: hello pingpong
+all: runsd hello pingpong
+
+runsd:
+	(if test ! -d runs ; then mkdir runs; fi)
 
 hello: hello.o 
 	$(FLINK)  hello.o -o hello $(PSBLAS_LIB) $(LDLIBS)
diff --git a/test/kernel/Makefile b/test/kernel/Makefile
index 453bcd26..8eb076a4 100644
--- a/test/kernel/Makefile
+++ b/test/kernel/Makefile
@@ -17,8 +17,10 @@ STOBJS=s_file_spmv.o
 DPGOBJS=pdgenspmv.o
 EXEDIR=./runs
 
-all: d_file_spmv s_file_spmv pdgenspmv
+all: runsd d_file_spmv s_file_spmv pdgenspmv
 
+runsd:
+	(if test ! -d runs ; then mkdir runs; fi)
 
 d_file_spmv: $(DTOBJS)
 	$(FLINK) $(LOPT) $(DTOBJS) -o d_file_spmv $(PSBLAS_LIB) $(LDLIBS) 
diff --git a/test/pargen/Makefile b/test/pargen/Makefile
index 72a2a512..20a95c0b 100644
--- a/test/pargen/Makefile
+++ b/test/pargen/Makefile
@@ -16,7 +16,10 @@ FINCLUDES=$(FMFLAG)$(MODDIR) $(FMFLAG).
 
 EXEDIR=./runs
 
-all: psb_d_pde3d psb_s_pde3d psb_d_pde2d psb_s_pde2d
+all: runsd psb_d_pde3d psb_s_pde3d psb_d_pde2d psb_s_pde2d
+
+runsd:
+	(if test ! -d runs ; then mkdir runs; fi)
 
 psb_d_pde3d: psb_d_pde3d.o 
 	$(FLINK)  psb_d_pde3d.o -o psb_d_pde3d $(PSBLAS_LIB) $(LDLIBS)
diff --git a/test/serial/Makefile b/test/serial/Makefile
index 3469d375..0136949a 100644
--- a/test/serial/Makefile
+++ b/test/serial/Makefile
@@ -15,7 +15,10 @@ FINCLUDES=$(FMFLAG)$(MODDIR) $(FMFLAG).
 EXEDIR=./runs
 
 
-all: d_matgen 
+all: runsd d_matgen 
+
+runsd:
+	(if test ! -d runs ; then mkdir runs; fi)
 
 psb_d_xyz_impl.o d_matgen.o: psb_d_xyz_mat_mod.o 
 
diff --git a/test/serial/d_matgen.F90 b/test/serial/d_matgen.F90
index 31f7f882..68d4f70d 100644
--- a/test/serial/d_matgen.F90
+++ b/test/serial/d_matgen.F90
@@ -414,7 +414,7 @@ program d_matgen
   !
   call psb_barrier(ictxt)
   t1 = psb_wtime()
-  if (.true.) then 
+  if (.false.) then 
     call psb_gen_pde3d(ictxt,idim,a,b,x,desc_a,afmt,&
          & a1,a2,a3,b1,b2,b3,c,g,info,amold=acsr)  
   else if (.false.) then 
diff --git a/test/serial/psb_d_xyz_impl.f90 b/test/serial/psb_d_xyz_impl.f90
index 4f57c53d..cf32ec60 100644
--- a/test/serial/psb_d_xyz_impl.f90
+++ b/test/serial/psb_d_xyz_impl.f90
@@ -2008,7 +2008,7 @@ end subroutine psb_d_xyz_csgetptn
 
 
 subroutine psb_d_xyz_csgetrow(imin,imax,a,nz,ia,ja,val,info,&
-     & jmin,jmax,iren,append,nzin,rscale,cscale)
+     & jmin,jmax,iren,append,nzin,rscale,cscale,chksz)
   ! Output is always in  COO format 
   use psb_error_mod
   use psb_const_mod
@@ -2026,9 +2026,9 @@ subroutine psb_d_xyz_csgetrow(imin,imax,a,nz,ia,ja,val,info,&
   logical, intent(in), optional        :: append
   integer(psb_ipk_), intent(in), optional        :: iren(:)
   integer(psb_ipk_), intent(in), optional        :: jmin,jmax, nzin
-  logical, intent(in), optional        :: rscale,cscale
+  logical, intent(in), optional        :: rscale,cscale,chksz
 
-  logical :: append_, rscale_, cscale_ 
+  logical :: append_, rscale_, cscale_, chksz_ 
   integer(psb_ipk_) :: nzin_, jmin_, jmax_, err_act, i
   integer(psb_ipk_) :: ierr(5)
   character(len=20)  :: name='csget'
@@ -2073,13 +2073,18 @@ subroutine psb_d_xyz_csgetrow(imin,imax,a,nz,ia,ja,val,info,&
   else
     cscale_ = .false.
   endif
+  if (present(chksz)) then 
+    chksz_ = chksz
+  else
+    chksz_ = .true.
+  endif
   if ((rscale_.or.cscale_).and.(present(iren))) then 
     info = psb_err_many_optional_arg_
     call psb_errpush(info,name,a_err='iren (rscale.or.cscale)')
     goto 9999
   end if
 
-  call xyz_getrow(imin,imax,jmin_,jmax_,a,nz,ia,ja,val,nzin_,append_,info,&
+  call xyz_getrow(imin,imax,jmin_,jmax_,a,nz,ia,ja,val,nzin_,append_,chksz_,info,&
        & iren)
   
   if (rscale_) then 
@@ -2103,7 +2108,7 @@ subroutine psb_d_xyz_csgetrow(imin,imax,a,nz,ia,ja,val,info,&
 
 contains
 
-  subroutine xyz_getrow(imin,imax,jmin,jmax,a,nz,ia,ja,val,nzin,append,info,&
+  subroutine xyz_getrow(imin,imax,jmin,jmax,a,nz,ia,ja,val,nzin,append,chksz,info,&
        & iren)
 
     use psb_const_mod
@@ -2118,7 +2123,7 @@ contains
     integer(psb_ipk_), allocatable, intent(inout)  :: ia(:), ja(:)
     real(psb_dpk_), allocatable,  intent(inout)    :: val(:)
     integer(psb_ipk_), intent(in)                  :: nzin
-    logical, intent(in)                  :: append
+    logical, intent(in)                  :: append, chksz
     integer(psb_ipk_) :: info
     integer(psb_ipk_), optional                    :: iren(:)
     integer(psb_ipk_) :: nzin_, nza, idx,i,j,k, nzt, irw, lrw
@@ -2146,11 +2151,12 @@ contains
     nz = 0 
 
 
-    call psb_ensure_size(nzin_+nzt,ia,info)
-    if (info == psb_success_) call psb_ensure_size(nzin_+nzt,ja,info)
-    if (info == psb_success_) call psb_ensure_size(nzin_+nzt,val,info)
-
-    if (info /= psb_success_) return
+    if (chksz) then 
+      call psb_ensure_size(nzin_+nzt,ia,info)
+      if (info == psb_success_) call psb_ensure_size(nzin_+nzt,ja,info)
+      if (info == psb_success_) call psb_ensure_size(nzin_+nzt,val,info)
+      if (info /= psb_success_) return
+    end if
     
     if (present(iren)) then 
       do i=irw, lrw
diff --git a/test/serial/psb_d_xyz_mat_mod.f90 b/test/serial/psb_d_xyz_mat_mod.f90
index 08717b8b..245623d3 100644
--- a/test/serial/psb_d_xyz_mat_mod.f90
+++ b/test/serial/psb_d_xyz_mat_mod.f90
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ module psb_d_xyz_mat_mod
     real(psb_dpk_), allocatable :: val(:)
 
   contains
+    procedure, pass(a) :: is_by_rows  => d_xyz_is_by_rows
     procedure, pass(a) :: get_size    => d_xyz_get_size
     procedure, pass(a) :: get_nzeros  => d_xyz_get_nzeros
     procedure, nopass  :: get_fmt     => d_xyz_get_fmt
@@ -313,7 +314,7 @@ module psb_d_xyz_mat_mod
   !! \see psb_d_base_mat_mod::psb_d_base_csgetrow
   interface 
     subroutine psb_d_xyz_csgetrow(imin,imax,a,nz,ia,ja,val,info,&
-         & jmin,jmax,iren,append,nzin,rscale,cscale)
+         & jmin,jmax,iren,append,nzin,rscale,cscale,chksz)
       import :: psb_ipk_, psb_d_xyz_sparse_mat, psb_dpk_
       class(psb_d_xyz_sparse_mat), intent(in) :: a
       integer(psb_ipk_), intent(in)                  :: imin,imax
@@ -324,7 +325,7 @@ module psb_d_xyz_mat_mod
       logical, intent(in), optional        :: append
       integer(psb_ipk_), intent(in), optional        :: iren(:)
       integer(psb_ipk_), intent(in), optional        :: jmin,jmax, nzin
-      logical, intent(in), optional        :: rscale,cscale
+      logical, intent(in), optional        :: rscale,cscale,chksz
     end subroutine psb_d_xyz_csgetrow
   end interface
 
@@ -518,6 +519,15 @@ contains
   ! == ===================================
 
   
+  function d_xyz_is_by_rows(a) result(res)
+    implicit none 
+    class(psb_d_xyz_sparse_mat), intent(in) :: a
+    logical  :: res
+    res = .true.
+     
+  end function d_xyz_is_by_rows
+
+  
   function d_xyz_sizeof(a) result(res)
     implicit none 
     class(psb_d_xyz_sparse_mat), intent(in) :: a
diff --git a/test/torture/Makefile b/test/torture/Makefile
index 2b4e7788..8a98657e 100644
--- a/test/torture/Makefile
+++ b/test/torture/Makefile
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
-BASEDIR=../..
-INCDIR=$(BASEDIR)/include/
+INSTALLDIR=../..
+INCDIR=$(INSTALLDIR)/include/
 MODDIR=$(INSTALLDIR)/modules/
 include $(INCDIR)/Make.inc.psblas
-LIBDIR=$(BASEDIR)/lib/
+LIBDIR=$(INSTALLDIR)/lib/
 PSBLAS_LIB= -L$(LIBDIR) -lpsb_util -lpsb_krylov -lpsb_prec -lpsb_base
 LDLIBS=$(PSBLDLIBS)
 CCOPT= -g
@@ -14,7 +14,11 @@ PSBTOBJS=psbtf.o psb_mvsv_tester.o  \
 EXEDIR=./runs
 
 
-all: psbtf
+all: runsd psbtf
+
+runsd:
+	(if test ! -d runs ; then mkdir runs; fi)
+
 psbtf.o: psb_mvsv_tester.o
 psb_mvsv_tester.o: psb_s_mvsv_tester.o psb_d_mvsv_tester.o psb_c_mvsv_tester.o \
 	psb_z_mvsv_tester.o
diff --git a/test/util/Makefile b/test/util/Makefile
index 37fb3da6..404170fb 100644
--- a/test/util/Makefile
+++ b/test/util/Makefile
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
-BASEDIR=../..
-INCDIR=$(BASEDIR)/include/
+INSTALLDIR=../..
+INCDIR=$(INSTALLDIR)/include/
 MODDIR=$(INSTALLDIR)/modules/
 include $(INCDIR)/Make.inc.psblas
 #
 # Libraries used
 #
-LIBDIR=$(BASEDIR)/lib/
+LIBDIR=$(INSTALLDIR)/lib/
 PSBLAS_LIB= -L$(LIBDIR) -lpsb_util -lpsb_krylov -lpsb_prec -lpsb_base
 LDLIBS=$(PSBLDLIBS)