The Process/Activity Data Browser manages the data used by K2 blackpearl at both process and activity level. Please see the k2 documentation  for more information regarding process/activity data

http://help.k2.com/helppages/k2blackpearl1420/webframe.html?page=Reference-ProcessActivityDataBrowser.html

Thank you for the reply.  However, I do know what the Process/Activity Browser is for; I use it virtually everyday.  I am specifically interested in the "References" and what they are used for.

References provide mapping between SmartObject Methods and K2 blackpearl Process Data Fields. Once the reference are created, you can use it to call smartobject methods. Please take a look at the following page:

http://help.k2.com/en/k2blackpearluserguide.aspx?page=Reference-ProcessActivityDataBrowser.html

http://help.k2.com/helppages/K2blackpoint1370/webframe.html?page=Reference - SmartObject Method Reference Wizard Overview.html 

I'll take a stab at this one.

Using references saves you a bit of work if you're going to be doing the same SmartObject call throughout your workflow. For example if you want to keep looking up the values of a specific SharePoint list item throuhout your process you can create a reference to the that SmartObject List Load method binding the SharePoint list ID (maybe you have it stored in a process data field). You only need to do that once. Then whenever you call that SmartObject to get the latest values of that list item you can use the SmartObject reference and evaluate the return properties without having to specify the input properties of the List ID each and every time you need to reference (call) it.

Of course you can do the same thing without creating a SmartObject reference but it’s another few clicks each time you make the call.

Regards,

Tim

That is correct