      *
      *  @default
      */
-    public function get widthInChars():int 
+    public function get widthInChars():Number 
     {
         return _widthInChars;
     }

     *  to determine its measuredWidth and measuredHeight. These are 
     *  similar to the cols and rows of an HTML TextArea.</p>
     */
    public function get heightInLines():int
    {
        return _heightInLines;
    }

    /**
     *  @private
     */
    private var _widthInChars:Number = 20;

    /**
     *  @private
