      */
     private function updateLLV(layoutTarget:GroupBase):void
     {
+        if (!llv)
+        {
+            llv = new LinearLayoutVector();
+            // Virtualization defaults for cases
+            // where there are no items and no typical item.
+            // The llv defaults are the width/height of a Spark Button skin.
+            llv.defaultMinorSize = 71;
+            llv.defaultMajorSize = 22;
+        }
         var typicalElt:ILayoutElement = typicalLayoutElement;
         if (typicalElt)
         {

            return;

        _gap = value;
        llv.gap = value;
        invalidateTargetSizeAndDisplayList();
    }


            return super.getElementBounds(index);

        var g:GroupBase = GroupBase(target);
        if (!g || (index < 0) || (index >= g.numElements) || !llv) 
            return null;

        return llv.getBounds(index);
