A system and method for automatically building helpsets is disclosed. There are a number of features that are provided by the present invention, including recursive building of subhelpsets, running a variety of scripts (e.g., post-processing scripts), creating topic identification (ID) map files, creating index files (e.g., XML index files), and creating full-test-search index files. Helpset building can be automatically initiated (e.g., at predetermined or scheduled times, in response to trigger events, etc.). Arguments or "parameters" (e.g., feature option selections, output control indications, etc,) can be passed on a command line or by an initialization file to initiate helpset building. The helpsets can be built based on information in standard help source files. Referenced files are included in a final output and files that are not referenced are not included helping to keep a full-test-search index file "clean" and final file output (e.g. JAR) footprint minimized.