public abstract class OptionsCategory
extends java.lang.Object

This class represents one category (like "Fonts & Colors" or "Editor") in Options Dialog.

Normally panels are registered using one of the annotations in OptionsPanelController. They may also be registered in a layer manually as follows:

   <folder name="OptionsDialog">
       <file name="General.instance">
           <attr name="instanceCreate" methodvalue="org.netbeans.spi.options.OptionsCategory.createCategory"/>
           <attr name="title" bundlevalue="org.netbeans.core.ui.options.general.Bundle#CTL_General_Options_Title"/>
           <attr name="categoryName" bundlevalue="org.netbeans.core.ui.options.general.Bundle#CTL_General_Options"/>
           <attr name="iconBase" stringvalue="org/netbeans/modules/options/resources/generalOptions.png"/>
           <attr name="controller" newvalue="org.netbeans.core.ui.options.general.GeneralOptionsPanelController"/>
           <attr name="keywords" bundlevalue="org.netbeans.core.ui.options.general.Bundle#KW_General"/>
           <attr name="keywordsCategory" stringvalue="General"/>
           <attr name="description" bundlevalue="org.netbeans.core.ui.options.general.Bundle#CTL_General_Options_Description"/>
           <attr name="position" intvalue="100"/>
       </file>
   </folder>

where:
controller should be an instance of OptionsPanelController
title should be a localized string where title of your tab inside OD is stored Currently unused.
categoryName should be a localized string for your tab's category name
iconBase should be relative path to icon wou wish to display inside OD
keywords should be localized keywords list, separated by comma in Bundle, for quickserach purposes
keywordsCategory should be relative path to your panel inside Options dialog
description should be a localized string where your tab description is stored Currently unused.

Or, when registering a category with sub-panels, instead of

            <attr name="controller" newvalue="org.netbeans.core.ui.options.general.GeneralOptionsPanelController"/>
 

there is an option to use

            <attr name="advancedOptionsFolder" stringvalue="OptionsDialog/JavaOptions"/>
 

and supply a folder where instaces of AdvancedOption should be registered. Its instances would be found automatically and shown as sub-panels

Use standard position attributes to sort items registered in layers.