diff --git a/tests/print/auto.test b/tests/print/auto.test
index 83f2de318..698a3ec4e 100644
--- a/tests/print/auto.test
+++ b/tests/print/auto.test
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
-# Add proportional income tax (from documentation)
-hledger print -f- --auto
-<<<
+# Transaction modifier adding (unbalanced) tax postings.
+# print. Auto-generated postings are inserted below the matched one.
+<
+= ^income
+  (liabilities:tax)  *.33  ; income tax
+
 2016/1/1 paycheck
     income:remuneration     $-100
     income:donations         $-15
@@ -10,9 +13,7 @@ hledger print -f- --auto
     assets:cash             $20
     assets:bank
 
-= ^income
-  (liabilities:tax)  *.33  ; income tax
->>>
+$ hledger print -f- --auto
 2016/01/01 paycheck
     income:remuneration           $-100
     (liabilities:tax)              $-33    ; income tax
@@ -24,23 +25,10 @@ hledger print -f- --auto
     assets:cash             $20
     assets:bank
 
->>>2
->>>=0
+>=
 
-hledger register -f- --auto
-<<<
-2016/1/1 paycheck
-    income:remuneration     $-100
-    income:donations         $-15
-    assets:bank
-
-2016/1/1 withdraw
-    assets:cash             $20
-    assets:bank
-
-= ^income
-  (liabilities:tax)  *.33  ; income tax
->>>
+# register
+$ hledger register -f- --auto
 2016/01/01 paycheck             income:remuneration          $-100         $-100
                                 (liabilities:tax)             $-33         $-133
                                 income:donations              $-15         $-148
@@ -48,38 +36,10 @@ hledger register -f- --auto
                                 assets:bank                   $115          $-38
 2016/01/01 withdraw             assets:cash                    $20          $-18
                                 assets:bank                   $-20          $-38
->>>2
->>>=0
+>=
 
-hledger register -f- --auto
-<<<
-= trigger
-  (target)   10
-
-2018/1/1
-  (trigger)   1
-  (target)    1    = 11  ; this assertion would not fail, auto posting will be taken into account
->>>
-2018/01/01                      (trigger)                        1             1
-                                (target)                        10            11
-                                (target)                         1            12
->>>2
->>>=0
-
-hledger balance -f- --auto
-<<<
-2016/1/1 paycheck
-    income:remuneration     $-100
-    income:donations         $-15
-    assets:bank
-
-2016/1/1 withdraw
-    assets:cash             $20
-    assets:bank
-
-= ^income
-  (liabilities:tax)  *.33  ; income tax
->>>
+# balance
+$ hledger balance -f- --auto
                 $115  assets
                  $95    bank
                  $20    cash
@@ -89,11 +49,25 @@ hledger balance -f- --auto
                 $-38  liabilities:tax
 --------------------
                 $-38
->>>2
->>>=0
+>=
 
-hledger print -f- --auto
-<<<
+# Balance assertions see the generated postings.
+<
+= trigger
+  (target)   10
+
+2018/1/1
+  (trigger)   1
+  (target)    1    = 11  ; this assertion would not fail, auto posting will be taken into account
+
+$ hledger register -f- --auto
+2018/01/01                      (trigger)                        1             1
+                                (target)                        10            11
+                                (target)                         1            12
+>=
+
+# Transaction modifier adding (balanced virtual) budget envelope postings.
+<
 = ^expenses:groceries
     [budget:groceries]                           *-1
     [assets:bank:checking]                        *1
@@ -101,12 +75,12 @@ hledger print -f- --auto
 2018/10/7 * MARKET
     expenses:groceries:food
     assets:bank:checking                         $-20
->>>
+
+$ hledger print -f- --auto
 2018/10/07 * MARKET
     expenses:groceries:food
     [budget:groceries]                 $-20
     [assets:bank:checking]              $20
     assets:bank:checking               $-20
 
->>>2
->>>=0
+>=