extractRefValue(obj) {
        let res = obj, isArray = false;
        if (Array.isArray(res))
            isArray = true;
        if (obj.ref) {
            // can be number or array
            return {val: this.context.retrieveRef(obj), isArray};

        }
        return {val: res, isArray};
    }
Throw away the refs, and retrieve the value.
@return {{val: *, isArray: boolean}}