Emacs shortcuts specific for a file type

Question

Hi,
is there a way to get different shortcut for different file types?
Tipically I use F12 to compile. It runs make -f. I'd like to have F12 running

M-x org-export-as-html

when I'm on Org-mode.
How should I edit my .emacs file? Currently it's just:

(global-set-key [f12] 'compile)

Thanks,
hamen

Answer 1

Add a mode hook for org-mode that does a local-set-key instead of a global-set-key

(add-hook 'org-mode-hook (lambda () (local-set-key [f12] 'org-export-as-html)))

Answer 2

The clean way to add bindings on a file type basis is to the bindings to the modes themselves:

(define-key org-mode-map (kbd "<f12>") 'org-export-as-html)

See Changing Key Bindings, Keymaps, and Major Mode Conventions