diff --git a/R/ds.asList.R b/R/ds.asList.R
index fb3fbdbc..516d51e3 100644
--- a/R/ds.asList.R
+++ b/R/ds.asList.R
@@ -67,7 +67,6 @@ ds.asList <- function(x.name=NULL, newobj=NULL, datasources=NULL){
     newobj <- "aslist.newobj"
   }
 
-  calltext <- call("asListDS", x.name, newobj)
-  out.message <- DSI::datashield.aggregate(datasources, calltext)
+  datashield.assign(datasources, newobj, call("asListDS", x.name))
 
 }
diff --git a/R/ds.changeRefGroup.R b/R/ds.changeRefGroup.R
index ae06bd6b..142ba930 100644
--- a/R/ds.changeRefGroup.R
+++ b/R/ds.changeRefGroup.R
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ ds.changeRefGroup <- function(x=NULL, ref=NULL, newobj=NULL, reorderByRef=FALSE,
   }
 
   # call the server side function that will recode the levels
-  calltext <- call("changeRefGroupDS", x, ref, reorderByRef)
+  calltext <- call("changeRefGroupDS", x, as.character(ref), reorderByRef)
   DSI::datashield.assign(datasources, newobj, calltext)
 
 }
diff --git a/R/ds.cor.R b/R/ds.cor.R
index 8d068beb..6043a511 100644
--- a/R/ds.cor.R
+++ b/R/ds.cor.R
@@ -100,6 +100,10 @@ ds.cor <- function(x=NULL, y=NULL, type="split", datasources=NULL, classConsiste
     .checkClassConsistency(output)
   }
 
+  if(!is.null(y) && any(output[[1]]$class %in% c("matrix", "data.frame"))){
+    warning("x is a matrix or a dataframe; y will be ignored and a correlation matrix computed for x!")
+  }
+
   if (type=="split"){
     covariance <- list()
     sqrt.diag <- list()
diff --git a/R/ds.cov.R b/R/ds.cov.R
index 1fdf57f2..a35c9097 100644
--- a/R/ds.cov.R
+++ b/R/ds.cov.R
@@ -117,6 +117,10 @@ ds.cov <- function(x=NULL, y=NULL, naAction='pairwise.complete', type="split", d
     .checkClassConsistency(output)
   }
 
+  if(!is.null(y) && any(output[[1]]$class %in% c("matrix", "data.frame"))){
+    warning("x is a matrix or a dataframe; y will be ignored and a covariance matrix computed for x!")
+  }
+
   if (type=="split"){
     covariance <- list()
     results <- list()
diff --git a/R/ds.dim.R b/R/ds.dim.R
index 6778a646..efafd586 100644
--- a/R/ds.dim.R
+++ b/R/ds.dim.R
@@ -64,14 +64,14 @@
 #'   # Calculate the dimension
 #'   ds.dim(x="D", 
 #'          type="combine", #global dimension
-#'#'          datasources = connections)#all servers are used
+#'          datasources = connections)#all servers are used
 #'   ds.dim(x="D",
 #'          type = "both",#separate dimension for each study
 #'                        #and the pooled dimension (default) 
-#'#'          datasources = connections)#all servers are used
+#'          datasources = connections)#all servers are used
 #'   ds.dim(x="D", 
 #'          type="split", #separate dimension for each study
-#'#'          datasources = connections[1])#only the first server is used ("study1")
+#'          datasources = connections[1])#only the first server is used ("study1")
 #'
 #'   # clear the Datashield R sessions and logout
 #'   datashield.logout(connections)
diff --git a/R/ds.glmSummary.R b/R/ds.glmSummary.R
index 22ae6a96..07747584 100644
--- a/R/ds.glmSummary.R
+++ b/R/ds.glmSummary.R
@@ -95,7 +95,6 @@ ds.glmSummary <- function(x.name, newobj=NULL, datasources=NULL) {
 	calltext1 <- call("glmSummaryDS.as", x.name)
 	DSI::datashield.assign(datasources,newobj,calltext1)
 
-  # LOOK BELOW CLIENTSIDE MODULE FOR NEXT BLOCK OF CODE
   # PREPARE AND CALL THE SECOND ASSIGN FUNCTION TO PREPARE AN ABBREVIATED 
   # summary_glm OBJECT ON THE SERVERSIDE THAT CAN SAFELY BE RETURNED TO CLIENT
 
diff --git a/R/ds.mean.R b/R/ds.mean.R
index 501c3773..accbc2c3 100644
--- a/R/ds.mean.R
+++ b/R/ds.mean.R
@@ -20,8 +20,7 @@
 #' are saved in the server-side. 
 #' Once the estimated means and \code{Nvalids}
 #' are written into the server-side R environments, they can be used directly to centralize
-#' the variable of interest around its global mean or its study-specific means. Finally,
-#' the \code{isDefined} internal function checks whether the key variables have been created.
+#' the variable of interest around its global mean or its study-specific means.
 #' 
 #' Server function called: \code{meanDS}
 #' @param x a character specifying the name of a numerical vector.
diff --git a/R/ds.recodeValues.R b/R/ds.recodeValues.R
index 81c352fb..4038c324 100644
--- a/R/ds.recodeValues.R
+++ b/R/ds.recodeValues.R
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@
 #'                   values2replace.vector = c(1,2), 
 #'                   new.values.vector = c(1,2),
 #'                   missing = 99, 
-#'                   newobj = 'bmi_recoded'
+#'                   newobj = 'bmi_recoded',
 #'                   datasources = connections)
 #'                  
 #'   # Clear the Datashield R sessions and logout                 
diff --git a/R/ds.table.R b/R/ds.table.R
index ba6497d0..328925aa 100644
--- a/R/ds.table.R
+++ b/R/ds.table.R
@@ -1521,7 +1521,6 @@ if(num.table.dims==1)
 
 }#END second dim=1 loop
 
-
 ################################
 #NOW UNDERTAKE CHISQUARED TESTS#
 ################################
@@ -1532,17 +1531,13 @@ if(report.chisq.tests)
 #TABLES WITH 3 DIMENSIONS#
 ##########################
 
-#Suppress.chisq.warnings by default
-if(suppress.chisq.warnings)
-{
-options(warn=-1)
-}
 ##################
 #Combined studies#
 ##################
 
 
 if(num.table.dims==3){
+withCallingHandlers({
 
 	numtests<-dim(combine.array.all.sources)[num.table.dims]
 
@@ -1593,11 +1588,7 @@ for(ns in numsources:1)
 	eval(parse(text=chisq.list.text))
 	
 
-#If warnings suppressed now return to default
-if(suppress.chisq.warnings)
-{
-options(warn=0)
-}
+}, warning = function(w) if (suppress.chisq.warnings) invokeRestart("muffleWarning"))
 	
 
 	return.list.second<-list(output.list=return.list.first,chisq.tests=chisq.tests,validity.message=validity.message)
@@ -1616,17 +1607,13 @@ options(warn=0)
 ##########################
 #TABLES WITH 2 DIMENSIONS#
 ##########################
-#Suppress.chisq.warnings by default
-if(suppress.chisq.warnings)
-{
-options(warn=-1)
-}
 
 ##################
 #Combined studies#
 ##################
  
  if(num.table.dims==2){
+withCallingHandlers({
 
 	chisq.list.temp<-")"
 	
@@ -1664,11 +1651,7 @@ for(ns in numsources:1)
 
   }#END ns loop
 
-#If warnings suppressed now return to default
-if(suppress.chisq.warnings)
-{
-options(warn=0)
-}
+}, warning = function(w) if (suppress.chisq.warnings) invokeRestart("muffleWarning"))
 
 	
 	eval(parse(text=chisq.list.text))
@@ -1687,13 +1670,9 @@ options(warn=0)
 #########################
 #TABLES WITH 1 DIMENSION#
 #########################
-#Suppress.chisq.warnings by default
-if(suppress.chisq.warnings)
-{
-options(warn=-1)
-}
  
 if(num.table.dims==1){
+withCallingHandlers({
 
 #combined.studies.not.possible.as.one.column.only
 
@@ -1748,11 +1727,7 @@ for(ns in numsources:1)
 	}
 
 	
-#If warnings suppressed now return to default
-if(suppress.chisq.warnings)
-{
-options(warn=0)
-}
+}, warning = function(w) if (suppress.chisq.warnings) invokeRestart("muffleWarning"))
 	
 
  }#END third dim=1 loop
diff --git a/R/glmChecks.R b/R/glmChecks.R
index 152b80bf..2610a630 100644
--- a/R/glmChecks.R
+++ b/R/glmChecks.R
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ glmChecks <- function(formula, data, offset, weights, datasources){
   # check that each variable is defined and not empty and each study. Stop the process if any check fails
   stdnames <- names(datasources)
   for(i in 1:length(elts)){
-    if(is.na(as.numeric(elts[i], options(warn=-1)))){ # making sure an eventual intercept term is not included in the checks
+    if(is.na(suppressWarnings(as.numeric(elts[i])))){ # making sure an eventual intercept term is not included in the checks
       message(paste0("    ", elts[i], "..."))
       for(j in 1: length(datasources)){
         # check if the variable is defined on the server site
diff --git a/man/ds.dim.Rd b/man/ds.dim.Rd
index dacda6a6..74c53eff 100644
--- a/man/ds.dim.Rd
+++ b/man/ds.dim.Rd
@@ -78,14 +78,14 @@ Server function called: \code{dimDS}
   # Calculate the dimension
   ds.dim(x="D", 
          type="combine", #global dimension
-#'          datasources = connections)#all servers are used
+         datasources = connections)#all servers are used
   ds.dim(x="D",
          type = "both",#separate dimension for each study
                        #and the pooled dimension (default) 
-#'          datasources = connections)#all servers are used
+         datasources = connections)#all servers are used
   ds.dim(x="D", 
          type="split", #separate dimension for each study
-#'          datasources = connections[1])#only the first server is used ("study1")
+         datasources = connections[1])#only the first server is used ("study1")
 
   # clear the Datashield R sessions and logout
   datashield.logout(connections)
diff --git a/man/ds.mean.Rd b/man/ds.mean.Rd
index 2e6cc9f3..9817fec5 100644
--- a/man/ds.mean.Rd
+++ b/man/ds.mean.Rd
@@ -70,8 +70,7 @@ as well as the global equivalents across all studies combined
 are saved in the server-side. 
 Once the estimated means and \code{Nvalids}
 are written into the server-side R environments, they can be used directly to centralize
-the variable of interest around its global mean or its study-specific means. Finally,
-the \code{isDefined} internal function checks whether the key variables have been created.
+the variable of interest around its global mean or its study-specific means.
 
 Server function called: \code{meanDS}
 }
diff --git a/man/ds.recodeValues.Rd b/man/ds.recodeValues.Rd
index 7a602591..c1c85fa9 100644
--- a/man/ds.recodeValues.Rd
+++ b/man/ds.recodeValues.Rd
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ Server function called: \code{recodeValuesDS}
                   values2replace.vector = c(1,2), 
                   new.values.vector = c(1,2),
                   missing = 99, 
-                  newobj = 'bmi_recoded'
+                  newobj = 'bmi_recoded',
                   datasources = connections)
                  
   # Clear the Datashield R sessions and logout                 
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-smk-ds.asList.R b/tests/testthat/test-smk-ds.asList.R
index 9c359abf..efd24457 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-smk-ds.asList.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-smk-ds.asList.R
@@ -35,6 +35,44 @@ test_that("simple test", {
     expect_equal(res.class$sim3, "list")
 })
 
+test_that("no data is returned to the client", {
+    res <- ds.asList(x.name = "D$GENDER", newobj = "gender.list")
+
+    expect_null(res)
+})
+
+test_that("a data.frame is written to the server as a named list of its columns", {
+    ds.asList(x.name = "D", newobj = "df.list")
+
+    res.class <- ds.class("df.list")
+    for (study.class in res.class) {
+        expect_equal(study.class, "list")
+    }
+
+    res.length <- ds.length("df.list", type = "split")
+    for (study.length in res.length) {
+        expect_equal(study.length, 1)
+    }
+
+    res.names <- ds.names("df.list")
+    for (study.names in res.names) {
+        expect_equal(study.names, "GENDER")
+    }
+})
+
+test_that("fails if the object does not exist", {
+    expect_error(
+        ds.asList(x.name = "nonexistent_object"),
+        "There are some DataSHIELD errors, list them with datashield.errors()",
+        fixed = TRUE
+    )
+
+    res.errors <- DSI::datashield.errors()
+    for (study.errors in res.errors) {
+        expect_match(study.errors, "The server-side object 'nonexistent_object' does not exist")
+    }
+})
+
 #
 # Done
 #
@@ -42,7 +80,7 @@ test_that("simple test", {
 # context("ds.asList::smk::shutdown")
 
 test_that("stutdown", {
-    ds_expect_variables(c("D", "aslist.newobj"))
+    ds_expect_variables(c("D", "aslist.newobj", "gender.list", "df.list"))
 })
 
 disconnect.studies.dataset.cnsim()
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-smk-ds.changeRefGroup.R b/tests/testthat/test-smk-ds.changeRefGroup.R
index 416ed448..5c0964df 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-smk-ds.changeRefGroup.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-smk-ds.changeRefGroup.R
@@ -65,10 +65,22 @@ test_that("simple changeRefGroup", {
 # Done
 #
 
+test_that("a numeric ref is a level name, not a position", {
+    ds.recodeValues(var.name = "D$PM_BMI_CATEGORICAL", values2replace.vector = c(1, 2, 3), new.values.vector = c(0, 2, 5), newobj = "bmi_codes")
+    ds.asFactorSimple(input.var.name = "bmi_codes", newobj.name = "bmi_codes_f")
+
+    ds.changeRefGroup(x = "bmi_codes_f", ref = 5, newobj = "bmi_ref5")
+
+    res.levels <- ds.levels(x = "bmi_ref5")
+    for (study.levels in res.levels) {
+        expect_equal(study.levels$Levels[1], "5")
+    }
+})
+
 # context("ds.changeRefGroup::smk::shutdown")
 
 test_that("shutdown", {
-    ds_expect_variables(c("D", "bmi_new", "bmi_ob"))
+    ds_expect_variables(c("D", "bmi_new", "bmi_ob", "bmi_codes", "bmi_codes_f", "bmi_ref5"))
 })
 
 disconnect.studies.dataset.cnsim()
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-smk-ds.cor.R b/tests/testthat/test-smk-ds.cor.R
index a5c442fb..47a8b501 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-smk-ds.cor.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-smk-ds.cor.R
@@ -103,6 +103,17 @@ test_that("error, x numeric vector requires y", {
     expect_match(res.errors[[1]], "If x is a numeric vector, y must also be a numeric vector")
 })
 
+test_that("ds.cor ignores y with a warning when x is a data.frame", {
+    res.x <- ds.cor(x = "D", type = "split")
+
+    expect_warning(
+        res.xy <- ds.cor(x = "D", y = "D$survtime", type = "split"),
+        "y will be ignored", fixed = TRUE
+    )
+
+    expect_equal(res.xy, res.x)
+})
+
 test_that("shutdown", {
     ds_expect_variables(c("D"))
 })
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-smk-ds.cov.R b/tests/testthat/test-smk-ds.cov.R
index b11eac64..e468051b 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-smk-ds.cov.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-smk-ds.cov.R
@@ -68,6 +68,17 @@ test_that("simple test, combine", {
 # Done
 #
 
+test_that("ds.cov ignores y with a warning when x is a data.frame", {
+    res.x <- ds.cov(x = "D", type = "split")
+
+    expect_warning(
+        res.xy <- ds.cov(x = "D", y = "D$survtime", type = "split"),
+        "y will be ignored", fixed = TRUE
+    )
+
+    expect_equal(res.xy, res.x)
+})
+
 # context("ds.cov::smk::shutdown")
 
 test_that("error, x numeric vector requires y", {
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-smk-ds.dim.R b/tests/testthat/test-smk-ds.dim.R
index 1ce6f250..8ba7266a 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-smk-ds.dim.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-smk-ds.dim.R
@@ -70,10 +70,12 @@ test_that("simple dim, combine", {
     expect_equal(dim.res$`dimensions of D in combined studies`[[2]], 1)
 })
 
-test_that("dim, wrong input class returns a server error", {
-    expect_error(ds.dim("D$LAB_TSC"), "There are some DataSHIELD errors, list them with datashield.errors()", fixed=TRUE)
-    res.errors <- DSI::datashield.errors()
-    expect_match(res.errors[[1]], "must be of type data.frame or matrix")
+test_that("dim of a vector is NULL, as in R", {
+    res <- ds.dim("D$LAB_TSC", type = "split")
+
+    for (study.dim in res) {
+        expect_null(study.dim)
+    }
 })
 
 #
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-smk-ds.glm-binomial.R b/tests/testthat/test-smk-ds.glm-binomial.R
index 666188ef..f1291d93 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-smk-ds.glm-binomial.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-smk-ds.glm-binomial.R
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ test_that("glm_binomial", {
 
 # context("ds.glm::smk::binomial, with check")
 test_that("glm_binomial, with check", {
-    expect_warning(res <- ds.glm('D$DIS_DIAB~D$GENDER*D$PM_BMI_CONTINUOUS+D$LAB_HDL', family="binomial", checks=TRUE), "NAs introduced by coercion")
+    expect_no_warning(res <- ds.glm('D$DIS_DIAB~D$GENDER*D$PM_BMI_CONTINUOUS+D$LAB_HDL', family="binomial", checks=TRUE), message = "NAs introduced by coercion")
 
     expect_length(res, 13)
     expect_equal(res$Nvalid, 7485)
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-smk-ds.glm-gaussian.R b/tests/testthat/test-smk-ds.glm-gaussian.R
index 569fbdd9..2ac603aa 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-smk-ds.glm-gaussian.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-smk-ds.glm-gaussian.R
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ test_that("glm_gaussian", {
 
 # context("ds.glm::smk::gaussian, with check")
 test_that("glm_gaussian, with check", {
-    expect_warning(res <- ds.glm('D$LAB_TSC~D$LAB_TRIG', family="gaussian", checks=TRUE), "NAs introduced by coercion")
+    expect_no_warning(res <- ds.glm('D$LAB_TSC~D$LAB_TRIG', family="gaussian", checks=TRUE), message = "NAs introduced by coercion")
 
     expect_length(res, 13)
     expect_equal(res$Nvalid, 7800)
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-smk-ds.glm-poisson.R b/tests/testthat/test-smk-ds.glm-poisson.R
index 19c56ebc..89a05dc3 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-smk-ds.glm-poisson.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-smk-ds.glm-poisson.R
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ test_that("glm_gaussian", {
 
 # context("ds.glm::smk::poisson, with check")
 test_that("glm_gaussian, which check", {
-    expect_warning(res <- ds.glm("D$survtime~1+D$time.id+D$female", family="poisson", checks=TRUE), "NAs introduced by coercion")
+    expect_no_warning(res <- ds.glm("D$survtime~1+D$time.id+D$female", family="poisson", checks=TRUE), message = "NAs introduced by coercion")
 
     expect_length(res, 13)
     expect_equal(res$Nvalid, 6299)
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-smk-ds.listServersideFunctions.R b/tests/testthat/test-smk-ds.listServersideFunctions.R
index df0d5fe4..9d48474c 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-smk-ds.listServersideFunctions.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-smk-ds.listServersideFunctions.R
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ test_that("check results", {
       "tableDS.assign", "tan", "tapplyDS.assign", "unlist", "unListDS", "vectorDS"
     ))
     aggregate.functions <- factor(c(
-      "NROW", "asFactorDS1", "asListDS", "aucDS",
+      "NROW", "asFactorDS1", "aucDS",
       "checkNegValueDS", "classDS", "colnamesDS", "corDS", "corTestDS",
       "covDS", "dataFrameSubsetDS1",
       "densityGridDS", "dimDS", "gamlssDS",
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-smk-ds.mean.R b/tests/testthat/test-smk-ds.mean.R
index e4590464..48dffa6f 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-smk-ds.mean.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-smk-ds.mean.R
@@ -258,17 +258,27 @@ test_that("mean values [both]", {
 # Done
 #
 
+test_that("mean of a logical variable is the proportion TRUE", {
+    ds.asLogical(x.name = "D$LAB_TSC", newobj = "tsc.logical")
+
+    res <- ds.mean(x = "tsc.logical", type = "split")
+
+    for (i in seq_len(nrow(res$Mean.by.Study))) {
+        expect_equal(res$Mean.by.Study[i, "EstimatedMean"], 1)
+    }
+})
+
 # context("ds.mean::smk::shutdown")
 
 test_that("error, input must be numeric or integer", {
     ds.asCharacter(x='D$LAB_TSC', newobj="not_a_numeric")
     expect_error(ds.mean(x='not_a_numeric'), "There are some DataSHIELD errors, list them with datashield.errors()", fixed=TRUE)
     res.errors <- DSI::datashield.errors()
-    expect_match(res.errors[[1]], "must be of type numeric or integer")
+    expect_match(res.errors[[1]], "must be of type numeric, integer or logical")
 })
 
 test_that("shutdown", {
-    ds_expect_variables(c("D", "mean.all.studies", "mean.study.specific", "Nvalid.all.studies", "Nvalid.study.specific", "not_a_numeric"))
+    ds_expect_variables(c("D", "mean.all.studies", "mean.study.specific", "Nvalid.all.studies", "Nvalid.study.specific", "not_a_numeric", "tsc.logical"))
 })
 
 disconnect.studies.dataset.cnsim()
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-smk-ds.var.R b/tests/testthat/test-smk-ds.var.R
index 65128b19..63ea16ff 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-smk-ds.var.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-smk-ds.var.R
@@ -89,17 +89,23 @@ test_that("simple var, both", {
 # Done
 #
 
+test_that("var of a logical variable is computed", {
+    ds.asLogical(x.name = "D$LAB_TSC", newobj = "tsc.logical")
+
+    expect_no_error(ds.var(x = "tsc.logical", type = "split"))
+})
+
 # context("ds.var::smk::shutdown")
 
 test_that("error, input must be numeric or integer", {
     ds.asCharacter(x='D$LAB_TSC', newobj="not_a_numeric")
     expect_error(ds.var(x='not_a_numeric'), "There are some DataSHIELD errors, list them with datashield.errors()", fixed=TRUE)
     res.errors <- DSI::datashield.errors()
-    expect_match(res.errors[[1]], "must be of type numeric or integer")
+    expect_match(res.errors[[1]], "must be of type numeric, integer or logical")
 })
 
 test_that("shutdown", {
-    ds_expect_variables(c("D", "not_a_numeric"))
+    ds_expect_variables(c("D", "not_a_numeric", "tsc.logical"))
 })
 
 disconnect.studies.dataset.cnsim()