The vSphere Web Client SDK provides a unique extension point for each of the default tabs and subordinate views for all object types in the vSphere environment. You can define a data view extension that references one of these extension points to create a subordinate view inside that tab or view.

Extension points use the following naming convention:

vsphere.core.${objectType}.${view}

The ${objectType} value indicates the type of vSphere object which object workspace you want to extend. The ${view} value specifies the exact view to which you add the extension, such as a top-level tab or specific subordinate view.

For example, if you define an extension that specifies the vsphere.core.vm.manageViews extension point, your extension appears as a subordinate view on the Configure tab in the object workspace for virtual machine objects.

For a complete list of object workspace extension points, see Object Workspace Extension Points.

A data view extension appears differently depending on the vSphere object that you specified with the extension point. Data views can appear in the object workspace having one of the following structures.

Second-level tab - If you define an extension to a top-level tab, such as Summary, Monitor, or Configure, a data view extension appears as a second-level tab in the object workspace.

Second-level tab view - If you define an extension to one of the existing second-level tabs, such as the Performance view inside the Monitor tab, a data view extension appears as a view within the second-level tab in the object workspace.

Table of contents views - If you define an extension to the Configure tab, an item view appears in the table of contents located on the left side of the tab.

Portlet - If you define the Summary tab extension point, a data view extension appears as a portlet in the object workspace.

When you design the user interface for your data view extension, keep in mind the extension point where the extension appears. The extension point data view type affects the amount of available screen space and the layout of your data view.