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

[Stephen E. <spe...@gm...>]

On 3/22/07, Andy <spi...@in...> wrote:
> 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.

Indeed, that's how the official MSN client works. As does Google Talk,
but it goes as far as showing a preview, if the file transfer is a
picture.

I believe there's some sort of agreement that popups are bad, see the
new buddy list notifications. I do think that file transfers belong to
the specific conversation window.

The file transfer progress dialog is nice, though.


Stephen