Multiline label

Question

The labels for my formItems are sometimes too long for one
line, and pointing to the label to see a tooltip display the full
title is insufficient for my client's requirements. There is room
on the stage for the label to wrap over two lines, but according to
docs labels does not support multiline.
i've considered two solutions to this, both of which i would
prefer to avoid:
1. creating my own custom formitem component from scratch
with a multiline text control.
2. coloring the label in the formItem the same color as the
background and absolutely positioning a multiline text control
where the label should be (time is short!)
can anyone think of a simpler way around this problem?
cheers
Craig

Answer 1

Unfortunately, FormItem's label is just that, a Label. And
Labels are not multi-line. But FormItem's actually use
FormItemLabel, not Label directly. So you can write your own
FormItemLabel and extend it from Text, not Label.
1. create the package mx.controls in YOUR application path.
2. create FormItemLabel.as in that package. Extend Text.
3. Override the protected function measure(), call
super.measure(), then adjust measuredWidth and measuredHeight.
You'll have to experiment in the measure() function to get
those values correct. The alternative is to explictly size the
FormItem which is probably your best bet for accuracy.
By placing mx.controls.FormItemLabel in your application
path, the Flash Player will load your FormitemLabel first and
ignore the one in the frameworks.swc.
Disclaimer: I haven't tried this myself (it should work,
though). And if you break Flex, well, you'll have to go with plan
B.