Ext.override(Ext.Element, {
            mask: function(msg, msgCls) {
                if(!Ext.isIE7 && this.getStyle("position") == "static"){
                    this.setStyle("position", "relative");
                }
        
                if (this._maskMsg) { this._maskMsg.remove(); }
                if (this._mask){ this._mask.remove(); }
                
                this._mask = Ext.DomHelper.append(this.dom, {cls:"ext-el-mask"}, true);

                this.addClass("x-masked");
                this._mask.setDisplayed(true);
                if(typeof msg == 'string'){
                    this._maskMsg = Ext.DomHelper.append(this.dom, {cls:"ext-el-mask-msg", cn:{tag:'div'}}, true);
                    
                    var mm = this._maskMsg;
                    mm.dom.className = msgCls ? "ext-el-mask-msg " + msgCls : "ext-el-mask-msg";
                    mm.dom.firstChild.innerHTML = msg;
                    mm.setDisplayed(true);
                    mm.center(this);
                }
                
                if(Ext.isIE && !(Ext.isIE7 && Ext.isStrict) && this.getStyle('height') == 'auto'){ 
                    this._mask.setHeight(this.getHeight());
                }
                
                return this._mask;
            }
        });