         invalidateProperties();
     }
 
+    //----------------------------------
+    //  alwaysCreateDisplayObject
+    //----------------------------------
+    
+    private var _alwaysCreateDisplayObject:Boolean;
+    
+    /**
+     *  Specifies that this GraphicElement is to be associated with and be rendered 
+     *  to its own DisplayObject.
+     * 
+     *  @default false
+     *  
+     *  @langversion 3.0
+     *  @playerversion Flash 10
+     *  @playerversion AIR 1.5
+     *  @productversion Flex 4.5
+     */
+    public function get alwaysCreateDisplayObject():Boolean
+    {
+        return _alwaysCreateDisplayObject;
+    }
+	
+	/**
+	 *  @private
+	 */
+	public function set alwaysCreateDisplayObject(value:Boolean):void
+	{
+		if (value != _alwaysCreateDisplayObject)
+		{
+			var previous:Boolean = needsDisplayObject;
+			_alwaysCreateDisplayObject = value;
+			if (previous != needsDisplayObject)
+				invalidateDisplayObjectSharing();
+		}
+	}
+    
     //----------------------------------
     //  baseline
     //----------------------------------

        layoutFeatures = new AdvancedLayoutFeatures();
        layoutFeatures.layoutX = _x;
        layoutFeatures.layoutY = _y;
		layoutFeatures.layoutWidth = _width;  // for the mirror transform		
    }
    
    /**

    //
    //--------------------------------------------------------------------------

    /**
     *  Called automatically by the MXML compiler when the GraphicElement
     *  is created using an MXML tag.
     *  If you create the GraphicElement through ActionScript you must set the
     * <code>id</code> property manually.
     *
     *  @param document The MXML document containing this GraphicElement (not used).
     *  @param id The MXML id for this GraphicElement.
     *  
     *  @langversion 3.0
     *  @playerversion Flash 10
     *  @playerversion AIR 1.5
     *  @productversion Flex 4
     */
    public function initialized(document:Object, id:String):void
    {
        this.id = id;
    }

    /**
     * Converts the point object from the object's (local) coordinates 
