diff --git a/src/prefs/BatchPrefs.cpp b/src/prefs/BatchPrefs.cpp
index 535f5c6a9..6a03afcfd 100644
--- a/src/prefs/BatchPrefs.cpp
+++ b/src/prefs/BatchPrefs.cpp
@@ -97,12 +97,16 @@ BatchPrefs::~BatchPrefs()
 
 #if 0
 namespace{
-PrefsPanel::Registration sAttachment{ 190,
+PrefsPanel::Registration sAttachment{ "Batch",
    [](wxWindow *parent, wxWindowID winid, AudacityProject *)
    {
       wxASSERT(parent); // to justify safenew
       return safenew BatchPrefs(parent, winid);
-   }
+   },
+   false,
+   // Register with an explicit ordering hint because this one is
+   // only conditionally compiled
+   { "", { Registry::OrderingHint::Before, "KeyConfig" } }
 };
 }
 #endif
diff --git a/src/prefs/DevicePrefs.cpp b/src/prefs/DevicePrefs.cpp
index 8ecc90c42..5a850bd98 100644
--- a/src/prefs/DevicePrefs.cpp
+++ b/src/prefs/DevicePrefs.cpp
@@ -423,7 +423,7 @@ bool DevicePrefs::Commit()
 }
 
 namespace{
-PrefsPanel::Registration sAttachment{ 10,
+PrefsPanel::Registration sAttachment{ "Device",
    [](wxWindow *parent, wxWindowID winid, AudacityProject *)
    {
       wxASSERT(parent); // to justify safenew
diff --git a/src/prefs/DirectoriesPrefs.cpp b/src/prefs/DirectoriesPrefs.cpp
index 909058b62..af0be75a3 100644
--- a/src/prefs/DirectoriesPrefs.cpp
+++ b/src/prefs/DirectoriesPrefs.cpp
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ DirectoriesPrefsFactory() {
 }
 
 namespace{
-PrefsPanel::Registration sAttachment{ 150,
+PrefsPanel::Registration sAttachment{ "Directories",
    DirectoriesPrefsFactory() };
 };
 
diff --git a/src/prefs/EffectsPrefs.cpp b/src/prefs/EffectsPrefs.cpp
index f632e64b7..088b4062e 100644
--- a/src/prefs/EffectsPrefs.cpp
+++ b/src/prefs/EffectsPrefs.cpp
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ bool EffectsPrefs::Commit()
 }
 
 namespace{
-PrefsPanel::Registration sAttachment{ 170,
+PrefsPanel::Registration sAttachment{ "Effects",
    [](wxWindow *parent, wxWindowID winid, AudacityProject *)
    {
       wxASSERT(parent); // to justify safenew
diff --git a/src/prefs/ExtImportPrefs.cpp b/src/prefs/ExtImportPrefs.cpp
index 964e468c1..28a92f484 100644
--- a/src/prefs/ExtImportPrefs.cpp
+++ b/src/prefs/ExtImportPrefs.cpp
@@ -827,11 +827,14 @@ void ExtImportPrefsDropTarget::OnLeave()
 }
 
 namespace{
-PrefsPanel::Registration sAttachment{ 120,
+PrefsPanel::Registration sAttachment{ "ExtImport",
    [](wxWindow *parent, wxWindowID winid, AudacityProject *)
    {
       wxASSERT(parent); // to justify safenew
       return safenew ExtImportPrefs(parent, winid);
-   }
+   },
+   false,
+   // Place as a lower level of the tree of pages:
+   { "ImportExport" }
 };
 }
diff --git a/src/prefs/GUIPrefs.cpp b/src/prefs/GUIPrefs.cpp
index 0f0fc684a..b30818abc 100644
--- a/src/prefs/GUIPrefs.cpp
+++ b/src/prefs/GUIPrefs.cpp
@@ -382,7 +382,7 @@ int ShowClippingPrefsID()
 }
 
 namespace{
-PrefsPanel::Registration sAttachment{ 60,
+PrefsPanel::Registration sAttachment{ "GUI",
    [](wxWindow *parent, wxWindowID winid, AudacityProject *)
    {
       wxASSERT(parent); // to justify safenew
diff --git a/src/prefs/ImportExportPrefs.cpp b/src/prefs/ImportExportPrefs.cpp
index 0f16a5109..33980f1e3 100644
--- a/src/prefs/ImportExportPrefs.cpp
+++ b/src/prefs/ImportExportPrefs.cpp
@@ -150,12 +150,11 @@ bool ImportExportPrefs::Commit()
 }
 
 namespace{
-PrefsPanel::Registration sAttachment{ 110,
+PrefsPanel::Registration sAttachment{ "ImportExport",
    [](wxWindow *parent, wxWindowID winid, AudacityProject *)
    {
       wxASSERT(parent); // to justify safenew
       return safenew ImportExportPrefs(parent, winid);
-   },
-   1
+   }
 };
 }
diff --git a/src/prefs/KeyConfigPrefs.cpp b/src/prefs/KeyConfigPrefs.cpp
index c2be8db85..b2a08b95a 100644
--- a/src/prefs/KeyConfigPrefs.cpp
+++ b/src/prefs/KeyConfigPrefs.cpp
@@ -890,7 +890,7 @@ KeyConfigPrefsFactory( const CommandID &name )
    };
 }
 namespace{
-PrefsPanel::Registration sAttachment{ 200,
+PrefsPanel::Registration sAttachment{ "KeyConfig",
    KeyConfigPrefsFactory()
 };
 }
diff --git a/src/prefs/LibraryPrefs.cpp b/src/prefs/LibraryPrefs.cpp
index 83cc8c063..fdb104169 100644
--- a/src/prefs/LibraryPrefs.cpp
+++ b/src/prefs/LibraryPrefs.cpp
@@ -263,12 +263,16 @@ bool LibraryPrefs::Commit()
 
 #if !defined(DISABLE_DYNAMIC_LOADING_FFMPEG) || !defined(DISABLE_DYNAMIC_LOADING_LAME)
 namespace{
-PrefsPanel::Registration sAttachment{ 140,
+PrefsPanel::Registration sAttachment{ "Library",
    [](wxWindow *parent, wxWindowID winid, AudacityProject *)
    {
       wxASSERT(parent); // to justify safenew
       return safenew LibraryPrefs(parent, winid);
-   }
+   },
+   false,
+   // Register with an explicit ordering hint because this one is
+   // only conditionally compiled
+   { "", { Registry::OrderingHint::Before, "Directories" } }
 };
 }
 #endif
diff --git a/src/prefs/MidiIOPrefs.cpp b/src/prefs/MidiIOPrefs.cpp
index ddd854bbf..1a8ec49d4 100644
--- a/src/prefs/MidiIOPrefs.cpp
+++ b/src/prefs/MidiIOPrefs.cpp
@@ -303,12 +303,16 @@ bool MidiIOPrefs::Validate()
 
 #ifdef EXPERIMENTAL_MIDI_OUT
 namespace{
-PrefsPanel::Registration sAttachment{ 40,
+PrefsPanel::Registration sAttachment{ "MidiIO",
    [](wxWindow *parent, wxWindowID winid, AudacityProject *)
    {
       wxASSERT(parent); // to justify safenew
       return safenew MidiIOPrefs(parent, winid);
-   }
+   },
+   false,
+   // Register with an explicit ordering hint because this one is
+   // only conditionally compiled
+   { "", { Registry::OrderingHint::After, "Recording" } }
 };
 }
 #endif
diff --git a/src/prefs/ModulePrefs.cpp b/src/prefs/ModulePrefs.cpp
index 604159b40..8f5dae341 100644
--- a/src/prefs/ModulePrefs.cpp
+++ b/src/prefs/ModulePrefs.cpp
@@ -191,12 +191,16 @@ void ModulePrefs::SetModuleStatus(const FilePath &fname, int iStatus){
 
 #ifdef EXPERIMENTAL_MODULE_PREFS
 namespace{
-PrefsPanel::Registration sAttachment{ 220,
+PrefsPanel::Registration sAttachment{ "Module",
    [](wxWindow *parent, wxWindowID winid, AudacityProject *)
    {
       wxASSERT(parent); // to justify safenew
       return safenew ModulePrefs(parent, winid);
-   }
+   },
+   false,
+   // Register with an explicit ordering hint because this one is
+   // only conditionally compiled
+   { "", { Registry::OrderingHint::After, "Mouse" } }
 };
 }
 #endif
diff --git a/src/prefs/MousePrefs.cpp b/src/prefs/MousePrefs.cpp
index 705c379c2..cd72eb7c0 100644
--- a/src/prefs/MousePrefs.cpp
+++ b/src/prefs/MousePrefs.cpp
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ bool MousePrefs::Commit()
 }
 
 namespace{
-PrefsPanel::Registration sAttachment{ 210,
+PrefsPanel::Registration sAttachment{ "Mouse",
    [](wxWindow *parent, wxWindowID winid, AudacityProject *)
    {
       wxASSERT(parent); // to justify safenew
diff --git a/src/prefs/PlaybackPrefs.cpp b/src/prefs/PlaybackPrefs.cpp
index 1b4f57fb5..a27a6d69f 100644
--- a/src/prefs/PlaybackPrefs.cpp
+++ b/src/prefs/PlaybackPrefs.cpp
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ bool PlaybackPrefs::Commit()
 }
 
 namespace{
-PrefsPanel::Registration sAttachment{ 20,
+PrefsPanel::Registration sAttachment{ "Playback",
    [](wxWindow *parent, wxWindowID winid, AudacityProject *)
    {
       wxASSERT(parent); // to justify safenew
diff --git a/src/prefs/PrefsDialog.cpp b/src/prefs/PrefsDialog.cpp
index 828d85fbc..d489242a2 100644
--- a/src/prefs/PrefsDialog.cpp
+++ b/src/prefs/PrefsDialog.cpp
@@ -452,39 +452,6 @@ int wxTreebookExt::SetSelection(size_t n)
    return i;
 }
 
-namespace {
-   struct Entry{
-      unsigned sequenceNumber;
-      PrefsDialog::PrefsNode node;
-      
-      bool operator < ( const Entry &other ) const
-      { return sequenceNumber < other.sequenceNumber; }
-   };
-   using Entries = std::vector< Entry >;
-   namespace Prefs {
-      Entries &Registry()
-      {
-         static Entries result;
-         return result;
-      }
-   }
-}
-
-PrefsPanel::Registration::Registration( unsigned sequenceNumber,
-   const Factory &factory,
-   unsigned nChildren,
-   bool expanded )
-{
-   auto &registry = Prefs::Registry();
-   Entry entry{ sequenceNumber, { factory, nChildren, expanded } };
-   const auto end = registry.end();
-   // Find insertion point:
-   auto iter = std::lower_bound( registry.begin(), end, entry );
-   // There should not be duplicate sequence numbers:
-   wxASSERT( iter == end || entry < *iter );
-   registry.insert( iter, entry );
-}
-
 namespace {
 
 struct PrefsItem final : Registry::ConcreteGroupItem<false> {
@@ -537,6 +504,22 @@ const auto PathStart = wxT("Preferences");
 }
 
 
+namespace {
+static Registry::GroupItem &sRegistry()
+{
+   static Registry::TransparentGroupItem<> registry{ PathStart };
+   return registry;
+}
+}
+
+PrefsPanel::Registration::Registration( const wxString &name,
+   const Factory &factory, bool expanded,
+   const Registry::Placement &placement )
+{
+   Registry::RegisterItem( sRegistry(), placement,
+      std::make_unique< PrefsItem >( name, factory, expanded ) );
+}
+
 PrefsDialog::Factories
 &PrefsDialog::DefaultFactories()
 {
@@ -552,18 +535,19 @@ PrefsDialog::Factories
       PathStart,
       {
          {wxT(""),
-   wxT("Device,Playback,Recording,Quality,GUI,Tracks,ImportExport,Projects,Directories,Warnings,Effects,KeyConfig,Mouse")
+       wxT("Device,Playback,Recording,Quality,GUI,Tracks,ImportExport,Directories,Warnings,Effects,KeyConfig,Mouse")
          },
          {wxT("/Tracks"), wxT("TracksBehaviors,Spectrum")},
       }
    };
+
    static Factories factories;
    static std::once_flag flag;
 
    std::call_once( flag, []{
-      for ( const auto &entry : Prefs::Registry() ) {
-         factories.push_back( entry.node );
-      }
+      PrefsItemVisitor visitor{ factories };
+      Registry::TransparentGroupItem<> top{ PathStart };
+      Registry::Visit( visitor, &top, &sRegistry() );
    } );
    return factories;
 }
diff --git a/src/prefs/PrefsPanel.h b/src/prefs/PrefsPanel.h
index c8508ac8f..bcd8063b5 100644
--- a/src/prefs/PrefsPanel.h
+++ b/src/prefs/PrefsPanel.h
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ MousePrefs, QualityPrefs, SpectrumPrefs and ThemePrefs.
 #include <functional>
 #include "../widgets/wxPanelWrapper.h" // to inherit
 #include "../include/audacity/ComponentInterface.h"
+#include "../commands/CommandManager.h"
 
 /* A few constants for an attempt at semi-uniformity */
 #define PREFS_FONT_SIZE     8
@@ -61,10 +62,9 @@ class PrefsPanel /* not final */ : public wxPanelWrapper, ComponentInterface
    // also implements the PrefsPanel subclass.
    struct Registration final
    {
-      Registration( unsigned sequenceNumber,
-         const Factory &factory,
-         unsigned nChildren = 0,
-         bool expanded = true );
+      Registration( const wxString &name, const Factory &factory,
+         bool expanded = true,
+         const Registry::Placement &placement = { wxEmptyString, {} });
    };
 
    PrefsPanel(wxWindow * parent,
diff --git a/src/prefs/ProjectsPrefs.cpp b/src/prefs/ProjectsPrefs.cpp
index 092ab3e03..3c4e0effe 100644
--- a/src/prefs/ProjectsPrefs.cpp
+++ b/src/prefs/ProjectsPrefs.cpp
@@ -99,12 +99,16 @@ bool ProjectsPrefs::Commit()
 
 #ifdef EXPERIMENTAL_OD_DATA
 namespace{
-PrefsPanel::Registration sAttachment{ 130,
+PrefsPanel::Registration sAttachment{ "Projects",
    [](wxWindow *parent, wxWindowID winid, AudacityProject *)
    {
       wxASSERT(parent); // to justify safenew
       return safenew ProjectsPrefs(parent, winid);
-   }
+   },
+   false,
+   // Register with an explicit ordering hint because this one is
+   // only conditionally compiled
+   { "", { Registry::OrderingHint::After, "ImportExport" } }
 };
 }
 #endif
diff --git a/src/prefs/QualityPrefs.cpp b/src/prefs/QualityPrefs.cpp
index 88a424bc0..ef4504a8e 100644
--- a/src/prefs/QualityPrefs.cpp
+++ b/src/prefs/QualityPrefs.cpp
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ bool QualityPrefs::Commit()
 }
 
 namespace{
-PrefsPanel::Registration sAttachment{ 50,
+PrefsPanel::Registration sAttachment{ "Quality",
    [](wxWindow *parent, wxWindowID winid, AudacityProject *)
    {
       wxASSERT(parent); // to justify safenew
diff --git a/src/prefs/RecordingPrefs.cpp b/src/prefs/RecordingPrefs.cpp
index bf04ed74e..92ab9c56e 100644
--- a/src/prefs/RecordingPrefs.cpp
+++ b/src/prefs/RecordingPrefs.cpp
@@ -305,7 +305,7 @@ void RecordingPrefs::OnToggleCustomName(wxCommandEvent & /* Evt */)
 }
 
 namespace{
-PrefsPanel::Registration sAttachment{ 30,
+PrefsPanel::Registration sAttachment{ "Recording",
    [](wxWindow *parent, wxWindowID winid, AudacityProject *)
    {
       wxASSERT(parent); // to justify safenew
diff --git a/src/prefs/SpectrumPrefs.cpp b/src/prefs/SpectrumPrefs.cpp
index 09dcb0ec7..156b56604 100644
--- a/src/prefs/SpectrumPrefs.cpp
+++ b/src/prefs/SpectrumPrefs.cpp
@@ -602,8 +602,10 @@ SpectrumPrefsFactory( WaveTrack *wt )
 }
 
 namespace{
-PrefsPanel::Registration sAttachment{ 100,
+PrefsPanel::Registration sAttachment{ "Spectrum",
    SpectrumPrefsFactory( nullptr ),
-   false
+   false,
+   // Place it at a lower tree level
+   { "Tracks" }
 };
 }
diff --git a/src/prefs/ThemePrefs.cpp b/src/prefs/ThemePrefs.cpp
index 2d1d0ddfd..3c6de95e9 100644
--- a/src/prefs/ThemePrefs.cpp
+++ b/src/prefs/ThemePrefs.cpp
@@ -233,12 +233,16 @@ bool ThemePrefs::Commit()
 
 #ifdef EXPERIMENTAL_THEME_PREFS
 namespace{
-PrefsPanel::Registration sAttachment{ 180,
+PrefsPanel::Registration sAttachment{ "Theme",
    [](wxWindow *parent, wxWindowID winid, AudacityProject *)
    {
       wxASSERT(parent); // to justify safenew
       return safenew ThemePrefs(parent, winid);
-   }
+   },
+   false,
+   // Register with an explicit ordering hint because this one is
+   // only conditionally compiled
+   { "", { Registry::OrderingHint::After, "Effects" } }
 };
 }
 #endif
diff --git a/src/prefs/TracksBehaviorsPrefs.cpp b/src/prefs/TracksBehaviorsPrefs.cpp
index 2cd89ff79..5da8861b4 100644
--- a/src/prefs/TracksBehaviorsPrefs.cpp
+++ b/src/prefs/TracksBehaviorsPrefs.cpp
@@ -132,11 +132,14 @@ bool TracksBehaviorsPrefs::Commit()
 }
 
 namespace{
-PrefsPanel::Registration sAttachment{ 90,
+PrefsPanel::Registration sAttachment{ "TracksBehaviors",
    [](wxWindow *parent, wxWindowID winid, AudacityProject *)
    {
       wxASSERT(parent); // to justify safenew
       return safenew TracksBehaviorsPrefs(parent, winid);
-   }
+   },
+   false,
+   // Place it at a lower tree level
+   { "Tracks" }
 };
 }
diff --git a/src/prefs/TracksPrefs.cpp b/src/prefs/TracksPrefs.cpp
index 2916cc2ab..a8cfde7e1 100644
--- a/src/prefs/TracksPrefs.cpp
+++ b/src/prefs/TracksPrefs.cpp
@@ -448,12 +448,11 @@ bool TracksPrefs::Commit()
 }
 
 namespace{
-PrefsPanel::Registration sAttachment{ 70,
+PrefsPanel::Registration sAttachment{ "Tracks",
    [](wxWindow *parent, wxWindowID winid, AudacityProject *)
    {
       wxASSERT(parent); // to justify safenew
       return safenew TracksPrefs(parent, winid);
-   },
-   2
+   }
 };
 }
diff --git a/src/prefs/WarningsPrefs.cpp b/src/prefs/WarningsPrefs.cpp
index 2ad2a306f..2a09b9bd7 100644
--- a/src/prefs/WarningsPrefs.cpp
+++ b/src/prefs/WarningsPrefs.cpp
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ bool WarningsPrefs::Commit()
 }
 
 namespace{
-PrefsPanel::Registration sAttachment{ 160,
+PrefsPanel::Registration sAttachment{ "Warnings",
    [](wxWindow *parent, wxWindowID winid, AudacityProject *)
    {
       wxASSERT(parent); // to justify safenew
diff --git a/src/prefs/WaveformPrefs.cpp b/src/prefs/WaveformPrefs.cpp
index c9159f6a1..6ff108b7c 100644
--- a/src/prefs/WaveformPrefs.cpp
+++ b/src/prefs/WaveformPrefs.cpp
@@ -265,9 +265,12 @@ WaveformPrefsFactory(WaveTrack *wt)
 }
 #if 0
 namespace{
-PrefsPanel::Registration sAttachment{ 80,
+PrefsPanel::Registration sAttachment{ "Waveform",
    WaveformPrefsFactory( nullptr ),
-   false
+   false,
+   // Register with an explicit ordering hint because this one is
+   // only conditionally compiled; and place it at a lower tree level
+   { "Tracks", { Registry::OrderingHint::Before, "Spectrum" } }
 };
 }
 #endif