         super();
         tabChildren = true;
         
-        _layout = new BasicLayout();
-        _layout.target = this;  
+        if(_layout == null)
+        {
+	        _layout = new BasicLayout();
+    	    _layout.target = this;
+    	}  
     }
         
     //--------------------------------------------------------------------------


        // TODO EGeorgie: can we directly call setActualSize instead?
        invalidateParentSizeAndDisplayList();
    }
    
    /**

import mx.graphics.MaskType;
import mx.graphics.graphicsClasses.GraphicElement;
import mx.layout.BasicLayout;
import mx.core.ILayoutElement;
import mx.layout.LayoutBase;
import mx.utils.MatrixUtil;

