Are POT Files Created Automatically?

Hi,

I don’t know if I’ve missed something on this page…
http://codex.ww.wp.xz.cn/I18n_for_WordPress_Developers

But I can’t figure out if POT files are generated automatically or do I need to create them and add each entry?

I assume it is automated but I added…

<?php _e(“Quick Start Instructions”);?>

To a page in my plugin and the file is not there. When I had a copy of a POT file there it was not updated. I’m clueless so far about how to make localisation happen for my plugin. Do I need to open my plugin in a blog that uses a different language to trigger the translation, POT file and MO files to be created?

Thanks
Ryan