[Gaim-devel] Usability issue and suggestion: remote file transfer requests

[Andy <spi...@in...>]

Hi list, :)

I've been testing the 2.0 beta since the beginning. It's been
progressing well and relatively bug free. Great job everyone involved!

I have a couple of usability issues with the file transfers interface.

Currently when a remote contact requests to send a file, Gaim pops up a
requester and waits for the user to accept the file and choose its
target file location. This means that the requester can go unnoticed if
it pops up behind another window (Gnome users can have this problem with
the do not steal focus option on, which is default). The transfer times
out at the remote end and is missed.

At the very least the option to set a sound or other alert would be
useful. It would be best if the file transfer requester did not pop up
at all. Instead:

1. The file request notification should be written to the chat window.
Either inline with the conversation text or as a part of the edit
toolbox.
2. A sound event should be able to be set to alert the user to the
incoming file request.
3. The tray icon should flash as per the configurable user alert for
incoming messages.
4. When the user returns to the conversation window they can click on
the request and select the target file location as per usual.

I believe this would be a vast improvement on most chat clients out
there who often miss these little usability points. I hope that the
developers consider it.

Thanks for your time.
Andy.