The data object type ManagedObjectReference is one of the most commonly required parameters to be passed to the server. For example, the MOB for the PerformanceManager.QueryPerfProviderSummary method shows that the method requires a single parameter, the managed object reference (an instance of ManagedObjectReference) of the entity for which you want to obtain the PerfProviderSummary object.

Using the vSphere API Reference for ManagedObjectReference type, you can obtain the schema information from the Show WSDL type definition link at the bottom of the documentation page for ManagedObjectReference.

Example: XML Schema Definition of ManagedObjectReference Data Object
<complexType xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:vim25="urn:vim25" name="ManagedObjectReference">
     <simpleContent>
          <extension base="xsd:string">
              <attribute name="type" type="xsd:string"/>
          </extension>
     </simpleContent>
</complexType>

Example: XML Schema Definition of ManagedObjectReference Data Object shows that a managed object reference is defined as a <SimpleContent> element that consists of a string that specifies the attribute type with its associated value, also as string. Use this information to construct the appropriate structure by replacing type with the parameter name from the MOB, setting the value as needed, and submitting in the entry field of the MOB. (The value for the Datacenter is displayed in the MOB.)

<entity type=”Datacenter”>datacenter-21</entity>

Using the MOB to Pass Complex Types to a Method shows the result of using the definition listed in Example: XML Schema Definition of ManagedObjectReference Data Object to specify the managed object reference for a target datacenter to the PerformanceManager.QueryPerfProviderSummary method.

Using the MOB to Pass Complex Types to a Method

As another example, one of the parameters required by the VirtualMachine.CloneVM_Task method is a folder. In this case, the parameter is defined as a managed object reference to a specific Folder object. Using the same definition shown in Example: XML Schema Definition of ManagedObjectReference Data Object, the result is as follows:

<folder type=”Folder”>folder-87</folder>

Although both examples submit a ManagedObjectReference to the MOB, each is specific to the parameter name required by the method (entity type for PerformanceManager.QueryPerfProviderSummary method, folder type for the VirtualMachine.CloneVM_Task method).