ThrowawaySims

I tried a POST but got the same thing returned. It's likely I just don't have the required parameters in the URL. Good spot on the SSL cert. The https://licenses.sims.co.uk/ domain has been accessible since at least March 2024 but the plans may have been to have it working by now, then again the cert may have just renewed at that time coincidentally. This is edging into you are not allowed to do this territory but I'll take a deeper look at some point and try and figure out the API, see if it's functional at all. The actual endpoint the server (or client?) hits may be buried further in with this generic error showing up when you navigate to a partialy correct path. Poking at Sims' spaghettiness isn't the most fun thing to do of an evening however...

I don't know the state of the URL from before last week, but currently the check runs against https://licenses.sims.co.uk/api/Entitlement/ which is showing "No HTTP resource was found that matches the request URI 'https://licenses.sims.co.uk/api/Entitlement/'." - looks like a problem on that endpoint.

Other way around - I stripped out the important bit from the official patch last week, which sets that field to be the previous day. I have no idea why this makes the problem vanish. I did try re-running the patch from last week today but when I logged into Sims after I still had the same error pop on login. I assumed that maybe the applicable version of Sims which is checked for was no longer passing so went in to the db and started poking.

I know it's "just a popup" for most users but it's indicative of the quality of the application and its updates, which were questionable (and I'm being generous) already anyway. TEMPORARY FIX - run at your own risk Tested and working at: 5 primary schools, 1 large secondary @wobert has provided an SQL script to apply this fix automatically If you're as cowboy brave as I am and want to try this, please report back to confirm if it works or not Here's a quick fix - you don't need anyone to log out of sims to apply this UNOFFICIAL workaround: Make sure you have a backup! This isn't an official fix, there's a risk here that something will go wrong, or you'll do something wrong, and break sims, which is much worse than having an annoying popup! On the sims server, open Microsoft SQL Server Manager and connect to the Sims server (you can find out what it is from 'C:\Program Files (x86)\SIMS\SIMS .net\connect.ini' on a workstation with Sims installed. Look for the 'ServerName=' line. eg: "ServerName=SimsServer.county.sch.uk\Sims2022") On the left, expand Databases, Sims, Tables - note that your database name might not be "Sims" exactly Find the 'db_annual_entitlement_service_details' table Right click > Edit top 200 rows On the 'date_last_checked' column, change the DAY in the date to be '20' instead of '22' (eg: "2025-05-22 07:00:00.000" becomes "2025-05-20 07:00:00.000") - btw @Boredguythis 7am is hardcoded and doesn't change which is why it worked prior to 7am this morning but started to fail after!) Click into another field - this applies the change to the date_last_checked column you've just made if someone logs into sims between step 5 & 7 you'll end up with a red icon on the field you edited, that's okay, it just means your change didn't write, you may need to repeat these two steps for this fix to apply) Once you've clicked away from this (so the change applies to the DB), log into sims on the server or a client. The eligibility check will be redone and will allow you to access census stuff normally without a login poopup either... At least, in testing this is the result, though I suspect it will recur unless the Sims crew can actually fix this problem.

A kind soul provided the direct link to the patch download in case anyone else was waiting for their support provider: https://s3dl.ess-solus.co.uk/SIMS_Sims.net_1.24.54.1.pkg This can be imported directly into SOLUS3. It's a tiny patch that updates the date_last_checked column in the sims.db_annual_entitlement_service_details table to force an entitlement check the next time Sims logs in. It is advisable that users log off of Sims before running this, however we can see no, and anecdotally we saw no, reason to close Sims clients during the update. You might want to play it safe however and get your users to close sims, or schedule the upgrade overnight. Please confirm the validity of this, don't trust random internet strangers! Perhaps other forum users can attest to this as being the legit fix for this Sims issue (not FMS!)

I feel your pain my friend. The humans with neurons there are great, honestly they know their stuff. But the processes, the red tape, the management manglement... yikes.

Yes, however for us SOLUS patches are released by the local council which are... let's say they operate on different timescales to us mere mortals. I have requested it but I will be happy if it arrives within the week

Waiting for the patch, might be a while to find its way to us... anyone got it and willing to share?