Automation of SharePoint list creation

[CSCSG]

Issue: Automation of SharePoint list creation
We're working in SharePoint (MOSS 2007) Lists. Few SharePoint Custom lists
need to be created in the production environment. Since there are many
SharePoint custom lists to be created, our development team automated the
solution package using the Option 2 below. But they couldn't proceed on this
due to error they encountered during the deployment. So, we are planning to
change our strategy.

Option 1: Create the SharePoint Lists as part of an automated scripts of a
SharePoint site in the solution package. The deployment package will create
all the lists in our production environment. Since there are many lists
(approx 130 lists), it will take more time I estimate.

Option 2: Create the SharePoint lists manually in the development
environment and save as "STP" files. Using the automated scripts, the STP
files should be part of the solution package. The deployment package will
create the lists in our production environment based on the STP files.

Clarification for Issue 1:
a) Can I create the SharePoint lists thru scripts using the STP?
b) Which is the efficient way to create the SharePoint lists out of the
above options? Is there any other approach do you suggest?

[spconsultant]

I have done this using features to define custom content types,
fields, list definitions, and views. It is a very flexible process and
will likely be easier to manager than scripts. Here is a linkt to get
you
started.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms466023(office.14).aspx

A feature reciever may help you deploy to all of the sites if that is
part of the problem.