      */
     private function measureVirtual(layoutTarget:GroupBase):void
     {
-        var eltCount:uint = layoutTarget.numElements;
+        var eltCount:int = layoutTarget.numElements;
         var measuredEltCount:int = (requestedColumnCount != -1) ? requestedColumnCount : 
                                                                   Math.max(requestedMinColumnCount, eltCount);
         

        
        // columnWidth can be expensive to compute
        var cw:Number = (variableColumnWidth) ? 0 : Math.ceil(columnWidth);
        var count:uint = target.numElements;
        var totalCount:uint = count; // number of elements to use in gap calculation
        
        // If the child is flexible, store information about it in the
        // childInfoArray. For non-flexible children, just set the child's

        var targetHeight:Number = Math.max(0, layoutTarget.height - paddingTop - paddingBottom);
        
        var layoutElement:ILayoutElement;
        var count:int = layoutTarget.numElements;
        
        // If verticalAlign is top, we don't need to figure out the contentHeight.
        // Otherwise the contentHeight is used to position the element and even size 
