Flash - Using a mask that is bigger than the 'maskee' layer

Question

Hi,

I am seeing some weird behavior from flash.

I created a test symbol ('SquareMask') of a square with a mask layer above it. The mask layer exceeds its size like so: (green: object, yellow: mask)

next object: Duplicate as the previous one, deleted the mask layer.

After that I dragged both symbols into the main scene, Now inside the flash IDE, the 'Info' window reports the same size for both symbols.

How ever, placing the following code on the first frame:

trace(sqrMask.width + ',' + sqrMask.height);
trace(sqrNoMask.width + ',' + sqrNoMask.height);

reports:

578.9,425
349.8,127

I have tested and this is due to the mask usage and it exceeding the edges of the 'viewable' object.

Is this documented behavior or is this a bug? If it is a documented behavior, is it possible to get the width/height without the masks?

Thanks