GridLayoutGroup children Z-values

When adding children to a GridLayoutGroup the z-values for the children items (Rect Transform) are set to -3312.

Below is single game object inside a grid container. Notice the Z value


Properties for Grid (container game object)


Properties for the Canvas


Is there any way to set the Z-position of the children items? They are grayed out and disabled b/c the Grid Layout component is handling the positioning. Thanks in advance

 

Doesn't seem like images are uploading properly. Links:

http://cl.ly/image/2E0w2Q3t1n3m/Image 2014-09-29 at 5.37.57 PM.png
http://cl.ly/image/0n1f2q2u1c3C/Image 2014-09-29 at 5.39.13 PM.png
http://cl.ly/image/2O1C0e261t0e/Image 2014-09-29 at 5.39.32 PM.png

 

void GenerateLetterGrid()
{
int letterIndex = 0;

for(int y=0;y<this.countY;y++)
{
for(int x=0;x<this.countX;x++)
{
Debug.Log("GenerateLetterGrid: "+letterIndex);

GameObject newButton = (GameObject)GameObject.Instantiate((GameObject)Resources.Load("Letter Grid/Letter Item"));
newButton.transform.parent = this.container.transform;

//Set intial scale to 1.0 and z to 0
newButton.transform.localScale = new Vector3(1.0f,1.0f,1.0f);
newButton.transform.position = new Vector3(0,0,0);

newButton.name = "Letter_"+letterIndex;

//Letter item script
LetterItem letterScript = newButton.GetComponent<LetterItem>();
letterScript.letterIndex = letterIndex;
letterScript.RandomizeLetter();

//Add to our array
this.letters.Add(newButton);

letterIndex++;
}
}
}

 

Quick question:
What the difference between

Code (CSharp):

1.  newButton.transform.SetParent (this.container.transform);

and

Code (CSharp):

1.  newButton.transform.parent = this.container.transform;

I didn't find it in the docs.

 

thanks a lot from the future, I had lost one hour on this problem