Assert.that(count > 0, "Meta data table must have > 0 columns in the Layout");
        // alloc and register AWTGroupColumns based on the meta data
        boolean useXMLFieldPath = table.booleanValueForBinding(_useXMLFieldPathBinding);
        for (int i=0; i<count; i++) {
            Element columnMeta = (Element)listImpl.elementAt(columnMetas, i);
            String key = columnMeta.getAttribute("key");
            String label = columnMeta.hasAttribute("label") ? columnMeta.getAttribute("label") : null;
            AWTMetaColumn column = new AWTMetaColumn();
            column.init(table, key, label, columnMeta, useDirectActionBinding, formatters, useXMLFieldPath);
            table.registerColumn(column);