Abstract: A system for automatically providing hypertext for character strings of a text file at a content server. A central server provides central control of the links of text files of a plurality of content servers in an information network such as the Internet. The central server intermittently updates each content server with new character strings and/or destination addresses, such as Uniform Resource Locators (URLs). The content servers also update the central server with new character strings. Optionally, each content server can query the central server on a real-time basis to obtain a destination address for a character string which does not have a corresponding valid destination address. The central server responds to such queries by searching its master databases, and using a search engine if required. Hit count data is maintained at the content servers and transmitted to the central server intermittently.