Re: Binding C-a to select all

["B. T. Raven" <nihil@nihilo.net>]

Davin Pearson wrote:
> I am using Emacs to teach computer programming to computer novices and
> therefore I need to modify Emacs to make it more like a standard
> Windows application.
> 
> I have downloaded cua.el to implement certain windows keybindings but
> cua.el doesn't bind C-a to select all, a feature which I would like.
> 
> Could someone present me with some Elisp code that provides this
> feature?

Evaluate this form with C-x C-e or put it in .emacs:

(define-key global-map [(control a)] 'mark-whole-buffer)

But I advise against it. C-a C-e M-a and M-e work together mnemonically 
if you think of a and e as Anfang and Ende (German beginning and end). 
Making the change you suggest disturbs this symmetry among related 
commands. Using Dvorak layout and Keytweak on w2000 I have needed to 
change only about half a dozen Emacs bindings (4 of them for single 
character cursor movement via keys close to home row and so as to avoid 
the arrow keys). This layout enables me to type ALL commands as easily 
as I can type a shifted number key.

Ed