diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/preference-metadata b/gtk2_ardour/preference-metadata
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e71bb70785
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/preference-metadata
@@ -0,0 +1,307 @@
+[SECTION:UI]
+
+[action-table-columns]
+[all-floating-windows-are-dialogs]
+[allow-non-quarter-pulse]
+[ask-before-closing-last-window]
+[automation-edit-cancels-auto-hide]
+[autoplay-clips]
+[autoplay-files]
+[autoscroll-editor]
+[blink-alert-indicators]
+[blink-rec-arm]
+[boxy-buttons]
+[buggy-gradients]
+[cairo-image-surface]
+[check-announcements]
+[clock-display-limit]
+[color-file]
+[color-regions-using-track-color]
+[default-bindings]
+[default-lower-midi-note]
+[default-narrow_ms]
+[default-upper-midi-note]
+[draggable-playhead]
+[draggable-playhead-speed]
+[editor-stereo-only-meters]
+[extra-ui-extents-time]
+[flat-buttons]
+[floating-monitor-section]
+[follow-edits]
+[font-scale]
+  fonts font size scaling
+  readable readability
+
+[freesound-dir]
+[grid-follows-internal]
+[hide-splash-screen]
+[highlight-auditioned-clips]
+[icon-set]
+[input-meter-layout]
+[input-meter-scopes]
+[insert-at-position]
+[keyboard-layout]
+[keyboard-layout-name]
+[link-region-and-track-selection]
+[lock-gui-after-seconds]
+[max-inline-controls]
+[max-plugin-chart]
+[max-plugin-recent]
+[meter-hold]
+[meter-line-up-din]
+[meter-line-up-level]
+[meter-peak]
+[meter-style-led]
+[meter-vu-standard]
+[mixer-element-visibility]
+[name-new-markers]
+[never-display-periodic-midi]
+[new-automation-points-on-lane]
+[no-new-session-dialog]
+[one-plugin-window-only]
+[only-copy-imported-files]
+[open-gui-after-adding-plugin]
+[plugin-gui-behavior]
+[prefer-inline-over-gui]
+[preview-video-frame-on-drag]
+[primary-clock-delta-mode]
+[recent-session-sort]
+[rubberbanding-snaps-to-grid]
+[ruler-granularity]
+[rulers-follow-grid]
+[save-export-analysis-image]
+[save-export-mixer-screenshot]
+[screen-saver-mode]
+[secondary-clock-delta-mode]
+[show-editor-meter]
+[show-grids-ruler]
+[show-inline-display-by-default]
+[show-manager-if-plugins-are-missing]
+[show-mini-timeline]
+[show-name-highlight]
+[show-on-cue-page]
+[show-plugin-scan-window]
+[show-region-cue-markers]
+[show-region-gain]
+[show-region-name]
+[show-region-xrun-markers]
+[show-secondary-clock]
+[show-snapped-cursor]
+[show-toolbar-cuectrl]
+[show-toolbar-latency]
+[show-toolbar-monitor-info]
+[show-toolbar-monitoring]
+[show-toolbar-recpunch]
+[show-toolbar-selclock]
+[show-track-meters]
+[show-triggers-inline]
+[show-waveform-clipping]
+[show-waveforms]
+[show-waveforms-while-recording]
+[show-zoom-tools]
+[snap-threshold]
+[snap-to-grid]
+[snap-to-marks]
+[snap-to-region-end]
+[snap-to-region-start]
+[snap-to-region-sync]
+[sound-midi-notes]
+[stripable-color-palette]
+[super-rapid-clock-update]
+[time-axis-name-ellipsize-mode]
+[timeline-item-gradient-depth]
+[transients-follow-front]
+[ui-font-family]
+[ui-rc-file]
+[update-editor-during-summary-drag]
+[use-double-click-to-zoom-to-selection]
+[use-mouse-position-as-zoom-focus-on-scroll]
+[use-note-bars-for-velocity]
+[use-note-color-for-velocity]
+[use-opengl-view]
+[use-route-color-widely]
+[use-time-rulers-to-zoom-with-vertical-drag]
+[use-tooltips]
+[use-wm-visibility]
+[vertical-region-gap]
+[vkeybd-layout]
+[waveform-cache-size]
+[waveform-clip-level]
+[waveform-gradient-depth]
+[waveform-scale]
+[waveform-shape]
+[widget-prelight]
+
+
+[SECTION:Session]
+
+[SECTION:Global]
+
+[afl-position]
+[all-safe]
+[allow-special-bus-removal]
+[ask-replace-instrument]
+[ask-setup-instrument]
+[auditioner-output-left]
+[auditioner-output-right]
+[auto-analyse-audio]
+[auto-connect-standard-busses]
+[auto-input-does-talkback]
+[auto-return-after-rewind-ffwd]
+[auto-return-target-list]
+[automation-follows-regions]
+[automation-interval-msecs]
+[automation-thinning-factor]
+[buffering-preset]
+[capture-buffer-seconds]
+[click-emphasis-sound]
+[click-gain]
+[click-record-only]
+[click-sound]
+[clicking]
+[clip-library-dir]
+[conceal-lv1-if-lv2-exists]
+[conceal-vst2-if-vst3-exists]
+[copy-demo-sessions]
+[cpu-dma-latency]
+[create-xrun-marker]
+[default-automation-time-domain]
+[default-fade-shape]
+[default-session-parent-dir]
+[default-trigger-input-port]
+[denormal-model]
+[denormal-protection]
+[deprecated-hiding-groups-deactivates-groups]
+[disable-disarm-during-roll]
+[discover-plugins-on-start]
+[disk-choice-space-threshold]
+[display-first-midi-bank-as-zero]
+[donate-url]
+[edit-mode]
+[exclusive-solo]
+[export-preroll]
+[export-silence-threshold]
+[feedback-interval-ms]
+[group-override-inverts]
+[hide-dummy-backend]
+[history-depth]
+[initial-program-change]
+[input-auto-connect]
+[inter-scene-gap-samples]
+[interview-editing]
+[latched-record-enable]
+[layer-model]
+[limit-n-automatables]
+[link-send-and-route-panner]
+[listen-position]
+[locate-while-waiting-for-sync]
+[loop-fade-choice]
+[loop-is-mode]
+[ltc-output-port]
+[ltc-output-volume]
+[ltc-send-continuously]
+[max-gain]
+[max-recent-sessions]
+[max-recent-templates]
+[max-transport-speed]
+[meter-falloff]
+[meter-type-bus]
+[meter-type-master]
+[meter-type-track]
+[midi-audition-synth-uri]
+[midi-clock-sets-tempo]
+[midi-feedback]
+[midi-input-follows-selection]
+[midi-track-buffer-seconds]
+[minimum-disk-read-bytes]
+[minimum-disk-write-bytes]
+[mmc-control]
+[mmc-receive-device-id]
+[mmc-send-device-id]
+[monitor-bus-preferred-bundle]
+[monitoring-model]
+[mtc-qf-speed-tolerance]
+[mute-affects-control-outs]
+[mute-affects-main-outs]
+[mute-affects-post-fader]
+[mute-affects-pre-fader]
+[new-plugins-active]
+[osc-port]
+[output-auto-connect]
+[periodic-safety-backup-interval]
+[periodic-safety-backups]
+[pfl-position]
+[pingback-url]
+[playback-buffer-seconds]
+[plugin-cache-version]
+[plugin-path-lxvst]
+[plugin-path-vst]
+[plugin-path-vst3]
+[plugin-scan-timeout]
+[plugins-stop-with-transport]
+[port-resampler-quality]
+[preroll-seconds]
+[processor-usage]
+[quieten-at-speed]
+[range-location-minimum]
+[range-selection-after-split]
+[recording-resets-xrun-count]
+[reference-manual-url]
+[region-boundaries-from-onscreen_tracks]
+[region-boundaries-from-selected-tracks]
+[region-equivalency]
+[region-selection-after-split]
+[replicate-missing-region-channels]
+[reset-default-speed-on-stop]
+[resource-index-url]
+[rewind-ffwd-like-tape-decks]
+[ripple-mode]
+[run-all-transport-masters-always]
+[sample-lib-path]
+[save-history]
+[save-history-depth]
+[send-ltc]
+[send-midi-clock]
+[send-mmc]
+[send-mtc]
+[show-solo-mutes]
+[show-video-server-dialog]
+[show-vst3-micro-edit-inline]
+[shuttle-max-speed]
+[shuttle-speed-factor]
+[shuttle-speed-threshold]
+[shuttle-units]
+[skip-playback]
+[solo-control-is-listen-control]
+[solo-mute-gain]
+[solo-mute-override]
+[stop-at-session-end]
+[stop-recording-on-xrun]
+[strict-io]
+[timecode-sync-frame-rate]
+[trace-midi-input]
+[trace-midi-output]
+[tracks-auto-naming]
+[transient-sensitivity]
+[transport-masters-just-roll-when-sync-lost]
+[try-autostart-engine]
+[tutorial-manual-url]
+[updates-url]
+[use-audio-units]
+[use-click-emphasis]
+[use-lxvst]
+[use-macvst]
+[use-master-volume]
+[use-monitor-bus]
+[use-osc]
+[use-plugin-own-gui]
+[use-tranzport]
+[use-vst3]
+[use-windows-vst]
+[verbose-plugin-scan]
+[verify-remove-last-capture]
+[video-advanced-setup]
+[video-server-docroot]
+[video-server-url]
+[work-around-jack-no-copy-optimization]
+[xjadeo-binary]
diff --git a/tools/process-metadata b/tools/process-metadata
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..9c94dedfe4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/process-metadata
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+#!/bin/perl
+
+$in_section = 0;
+$in_heading = 0;
+$section = "";
+$heading = "";
+$accumulated = "";
+
+while (<>) {
+      if (/\[SECTION:/) {
+	  chop;
+	  s/\[SECTION://;
+	  s/\]//;
+	  $section = $_;
+	  print $section, "\n";
+	  $in_section = 1;
+	  $in_heading = 0;
+	  $heading = "";
+	  next;
+      }
+
+      if (!$in_section) {
+	  print "NIS\n";
+	  next;
+      }
+
+      if (/\[[a-z0-9_-]+\]/) {
+
+	  if ($accumulated ne "") {
+	      @arr = split (/\s+/, $accumulated);
+	      
+	      print "VAR_META (X_(\"$heading\"), ";
+	      for my $word (@arr) {
+		  if ($word ne "") {
+		      print "_(\"$word\"), ";
+		  }
+	      }
+	      print " NULL);\n";
+	      $accumulated = "";
+	  }
+
+	  chop;
+	  chop;
+	  $heading = substr ($_, 1);
+	  $in_heading = 1;
+	  next;
+      }
+
+      if (!$in_heading) {
+	  next;
+      }
+
+      $accumulated .= $_;
+}