Error - Incorrect S:\SIMS\Connect.ini file : system exception

The connect.ini file is held on the local workstation (usually in c:/program files (x86)\sims\sims .net folder) which tells the workstation the name of the SQL server and database to connect to - for example

ServerName=OSMIS-WIN10\SIMS2012

DatabaseName=EngGA

The file may also simply redirect the workstation to a network copy of the file- check that the shared drive e.g. S:\sims can be seen on the local workstation.

Workstations can be set up with the option to select the database to access as below:

The SIMSConnection section, The FriendlyName0 section and the SIMSOffline section all need to have the same SQL Instance and the same Database for the first time you try to load SIMS. Otherwise it automatically go to whichever database is chosen for the SIMSconnection section or the SIMS offline section. Once you change them so that these sections all match then this will allow you to choose the database you want to login to. 

[SIMSConnection]
ServerName=SERVERNAME\SQLINSTANCE
DatabaseName=SIMS1
DatabaseMode=OnLine

[SIMSDatabases]
FriendlyName0= SIMS Database 1
Server0=SERVERNAME\SQLINSTANCE
DatabaseName0=SIMS1
DatabaseMode0=Online

FriendlyName1=SIMS Database 2
Server1=SERVERNAME\SQLINSTANCE
DatabaseName1=SIMS2
DatabaseMode1=Online

FriendlyName2=SIMS Database 3
Server2=SERVERNAME\SQLINSTANCE
DatabaseName2=SIMS3
DatabaseMode2=Online

[SIMSOffline]
PreviousRedirect=
PreviousServerName=SERVERNAME\SQLINSTANCE
PreviousDatabaseName=SIMS1
PreviousDatabaseMode=OnLine