         var eltCount:uint = layoutTarget.numElements;
         var measuredEltCount:int = (requestedColumnCount != -1) ? requestedColumnCount : eltCount;
         
+        var hPadding:Number = paddingLeft + paddingRight;
+        var vPadding:Number = paddingTop + paddingBottom;
+        
         if (measuredEltCount <= 0)
         {
-            layoutTarget.measuredWidth = layoutTarget.measuredHeight = 0;
-            layoutTarget.measuredMinWidth = layoutTarget.measuredMinHeight = 0;
+            layoutTarget.measuredWidth = layoutTarget.measuredMinWidth = hPadding;
+            layoutTarget.measuredHeight = layoutTarget.measuredMinHeight = vPadding;
             return;
         }        
         

            setColumnCount(0);
            setIndexInView(-1, -1);
            if (layoutTarget.numElements == 0)
                layoutTarget.setContentSize(0, 0);
            return;         
        }



        setColumnCount(index - startIndex);
        setIndexInView(startIndex, endIndex);
        layoutTarget.setContentSize(llv.end(llv.length - 1) + paddingRight, contentHeight + paddingTop + paddingBottom);
    }
    
    /**
     *  @private 
     */
    private function updateDisplayListReal():void
    {
        var layoutTarget:GroupBase = target;
        var targetWidth:Number = Math.max(0, layoutTarget.width - paddingLeft - paddingRight);
        var targetHeight:Number = Math.max(0, layoutTarget.height - paddingTop - paddingBottom);
        
        var layoutElement:ILayoutElement;
        var count:uint = layoutTarget.numElements;
