--- a/openide.windows/src/org/netbeans/modules/openide/windows/TopComponentProcessor.java	Wed Oct 12 12:15:11 2011 +0200
+++ a/openide.windows/src/org/netbeans/modules/openide/windows/TopComponentProcessor.java	Wed Oct 12 14:47:54 2011 +0200
@@ -87,19 +87,21 @@ 
             }
             String id = info.preferredID().replace('.', '-');
             
-            String role = reg.role();
-            String rootFolder = role.isEmpty() ? "Windows2" : "Windows2/Roles/" + role;
+            String[] roles = reg.roles();
+            for (String role : roles){
+                String rootFolder = role.isEmpty() ? "Windows2" : "Windows2/Roles/" + role;
 
-            File settingsFile = layer(e).
-                file(rootFolder+"/Components/" + id + ".settings").
-                contents(settingsFile(e));
-            settingsFile.write();
-            
-            File modeFile = layer(e).
-                file(rootFolder+"/Modes/" + reg.mode() + "/" + id + ".wstcref").
-                position(reg.position()).
-                contents(modeFile(info.preferredID(), reg.openAtStartup()));
-            modeFile.write();
+                File settingsFile = layer(e).
+                    file(rootFolder+"/Components/" + id + ".settings").
+                    contents(settingsFile(e));
+                settingsFile.write();
+
+                File modeFile = layer(e).
+                    file(rootFolder+"/Modes/" + reg.mode() + "/" + id + ".wstcref").
+                    position(reg.position()).
+                    contents(modeFile(info.preferredID(), reg.openAtStartup()));
+                modeFile.write();
+            }
         }
         
         for (Element e : roundEnv.getElementsAnnotatedWith(TopComponent.OpenActionRegistration.class)) {
--- a/openide.windows/src/org/openide/windows/TopComponent.java	Wed Oct 12 12:15:11 2011 +0200
+++ a/openide.windows/src/org/openide/windows/TopComponent.java	Wed Oct 12 14:47:54 2011 +0200
@@ -1428,11 +1428,11 @@ 
         /** Shall the component be opened at start */
         boolean openAtStartup();
         /** 
-         * Window layout role or an empty string for the default layout 
+         * Window layout roles or an empty string for the default layout 
          * @see WindowManager#setRole(java.lang.String) 
          * @since 6.45
          */
-        String role() default "";
+        String[] roles() default {};
     }
     
     /** Creates an action that can open the component.
--- a/openide.windows/test/unit/src/org/netbeans/modules/openide/windows/TopComponentProcessorTest.java	Wed Oct 12 12:15:11 2011 +0200
+++ a/openide.windows/test/unit/src/org/netbeans/modules/openide/windows/TopComponentProcessorTest.java	Wed Oct 12 14:47:54 2011 +0200
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ 
     }
 
     public void testTCRegisteredInRoleFine() throws Exception {
-        FileObject set = FileUtil.getConfigFile("Windows2/Roles/UnitTestRole/Components/my-tc2.settings");
+        FileObject set = FileUtil.getConfigFile("Windows2/Roles/UnitTestRole1/Components/my-tc2.settings");
         assertNotNull("Settings file found", set);
         assertValidate(set.asText());
     }
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ 
     @TopComponent.Registration(
         mode="output",
         openAtStartup=false,
-        role="UnitTestRole"
+        roles={"UnitTestRole1", "UnitTestRole2"}
     )
     @TopComponent.Description(
         preferredID="my-tc2", iconBase="org/openide/windows/Icon.png"