         }
     }
     
+    /**
+     *  Given a data item, return the correct text representation 
+     *  a renderer should display. 
+     *
+     *  @param item A data item 
+     *  
+     *  @return String representing the text to display for the 
+     *  passed in item's renderer. 
+     *  
+     *  @langversion 3.0
+     *  @playerversion Flash 10
+     *  @playerversion AIR 1.5
+     *  @productversion Flex 4
+     */
+    public function itemToLabel(item:Object):String
+    {
+    	if (item)
+            return item.toString();
+        return " ";
+    }
+    
     //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
     //
     //  Item -> Renderer mapping

                    elt.includeInLayout = true;
                    if (elt is IDataRenderer)
                        IDataRenderer(elt).data = item;
                    recycledIR = true;
                }
                else 

     */    
    private function changeUseVirtualLayout():void
    {
        cleanUpDataProvider();
        invalidateProperties();
        useVirtualLayoutChanged = true;
