      */
     public function appendText(text:String):void
     {
-        if (stageText != null)
+        if (stageText != null && text.length > 0)
         {
             if (stageText.text != null)
                 stageText.text += text;
             else
                 stageText.text = text;
+            
+            _text = stageText.text;
+            dispatchEvent(new TextOperationEvent(TextOperationEvent.CHANGE));
         }
     }
     

    private var _enabled:Boolean = true;
    
    /**
     *  @copy mx.core.UIComponent#enabled
     *  
     *  @langversion 3.0

     */
    public function get softKeyboardType():String
    {
        return stageText ? stageText.softKeyboardType : _softKeyboardType;
    }
    
    public function set softKeyboardType(value:String):void
    {
        if (value == "")
            value = SoftKeyboardType.DEFAULT;
        
        if (stageText != null)
            stageText.softKeyboardType = value;
        
        _softKeyboardType = value;
    }
    
    //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
