1. A computer-implemented method for providing a reference to a content object in a user interface using an on-demand database service, the method comprising: receiving, at a computing device, data regarding identification of a content object, wherein the content object is stored in a data repository external to the on-demand database service; storing the data regarding the content object in a persistent object in a database of the on-demand database service; providing a reference representing the persistent object to a display device operable to display the reference in a user interface when the display device accesses the on-demand database service; and exposing one or more graphical representations regarding the content object for display in the user interface by the display device, wherein the exposed graphical representations depend at least in part on the data repository.