textField.wordWrap failing

I'm having a strange problem where the wordWrap property of the TextField object only works if I create the TextField object via code.

If I use the GUI to make the TextField (assigning it dynamic type and naming an instance), it doesnt wrap. I can, however, set the text of the GUI created TextField fine.

The data that is getting displayed in the TextField is from an XML feed. So OnLoad() of the XML file I try to set:

_root.text1.wordWrap = true;
_root.text1.text = myvalue;

This correctly sets the text property, but the wordWrap property is ignored.

If I do:

createTextField("text1",0,0,60,60);
text1.wordWrap = true;
text1.text = myvalue;

Everything works as expected.

I dont understand why I have to code the textfield creation. Any info would be appreciated.

thanks

John