/**
         * @private
         * this method converts a <code>Field</code> into a flex component
         * and returns a form item.
         */
        private function createFormItem( field:IField ):MultiColumnFormItem {
            var formItem:MultiColumnFormItem = new MultiColumnFormItem();
            formItem.percentWidth = 100;
            formItem.label = field.label;
            formItem.name = field.name;

            log.debug("Form item: {0}", field);

            var component:IEntityFieldComponent = _entityComponentManager.componentFor(field);
            _uiBindings.concat(component.bindTo(_internalInstance, field));

            formItem.addChild(DisplayObject(component));

            // TODO: This *needs* to be rolled back into component manager - leave for now
            if (field.dataType == FieldType.ENTITY) {
                component.addEventListener(EntityEvent.EDIT_ENTITY, doSearch, false, 0, true);
            }

            return formItem;
        }