One of the most important changes in the chat window in freshly redesigned Skype for Mac 1.5 Beta is the lighter, more legible and better optimized Skype Modern Chat Style which you can turn on from Skype » Preferences » Chat panel. But besides the chat style, we added a few neat tricks for sending files that will help you be faster when chatting over Skype.

First, the drag-n-drop that you might already know about. Like in version 1.4, you can drop files into chat input or content area both in 1:1 chats and chats with several contacts. This will initiate file transfer to your chat contact (or multiple contacts). Drag-and-drop also works in chat drawer, you can drop files onto single contact or a chat title to initiate file transfer.

Second, you can now initiate a file transfer while in a chat (single transfer when in 1:1, multiple ones when in a chat with several contacts) by pressing keyboard combination Command-Shift-F. This will open a dialog that allows you to locate a file, select it and then send to the contact(s) you are chatting with.

But there's even a simpler, faster way to initiate a file transfer for the true pros in Skype chat. If you are browsing around in Finder and locate the file you want to send to your contact(s), simply use Command-C to copy it. Then switch to Skype chat window and simply use Command-V to paste the file. This will start the file transfer(s) right way. Simple, isn't it?