During the past few months, I've received reports from about three users that attempted downloads of Bookdog always fail sometime before completion, whether they are downloading the .dmg or the .zip, whether using Bookdog's internal "Check for Update" or downloading from the links at the right.
This can be caused by temporary server or router overloads on the internet, so the first step is to wait twenty minutes or so and retry.
If you appear to be one of those people, the best explanation I've found is that somewhere along the internet between your computer and my web host's servers in Houston or Atlanta, some node is "dropping the ball".
Fixing the Root Cause
The best fix is if your internet service provider (ISP) could find out who is dropping the ball and get them to fix it. I've produced a little tool ("SSYDownloadDiagnoser") which you can download and run in less than two minutes. It will find your IP address, trace the route to sheepsystems.com, and assemble this and other system information into a support request which is all ready for you to add your comments and send to the friendly Support Dept. of your ISP. If you choose to pursue this, please cc your message to jerry@sheepsystems.com and then let me know how it goes.
Going Around the Problem
I understand that you may be able to go around the problem if you ask your ISP to change the name servers they use on your account, or alternatively you may be able to change them on your own computer. The idea is that a different name server might get you a different route. Here are links to two companies, DNS Advantage and Open DNS, which offer alternative DNS that you might want to try, especially if you have had other connectivity problems.
If you click the "Why we're free" link at the lower left of the page that opens on the second link, it explains their business model. Somehow they add or replace ads that appear in searches. I don't quite understand it how that can be done.
I don't know whether or not these services will work, but you won't lose anything other than time. If they doesn't work or if you start getting annoying ads popping up all over the place, you can simply set your name server addresses back to the numbers which you got originally from your ISP.
Again, I'd be very interested to help or hear of any success or failure you have.
The Hard Way
I have found that users which have trouble downloading from sheepsystems.com can usually download from my personal web space at Earthlink, so if you send me a request using the form at the right, I'll make sure that the latest version is uploaded there and give you a link to download it. But this going to be a constant chore for both of us, and it would be much better if we could get this fixed.
Where Are You
If you do contact me regarding this issue, please let me know what is your ISP and what city you are near.
Thank you.
Jerry Krinock