> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.abbyy.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Update databases and projects created in ABBYY FlexiCapture Distributed

> Migrate ABBYY FlexiCapture 10 or 11 distributed projects to FlexiCapture 12 by connecting to the existing database or moving projects into a new one.

A distributed edition of ABBYY FlexiCapture works with projects that are stored in the database on the Application Server.

There are several ways to migrate from an earlier version to ABBYY FlexiCapture 12:

* [Connect to a database](#db11for12connect) created in an earlier version of ABBYY FlexiCapture.
* [Move projects](#projectmigration) created in an earlier version of ABBYY FlexiCapture to a new database (recommended).

<Warning>
  Before upgrading to ABBYY FlexiCapture 12, be sure to complete the processing of any documents that are still being processed by your previous version of ABBYY FlexiCapture, otherwise all these documents will be lost.
</Warning>

## <a id="db11for12connect" />Connect to a database created in an earlier version of ABBYY FlexiCapture

Once ABBYY FlexiCapture 12 servers are installed, you can use the Administration and Monitoring Console to connect to the database and file storage location that were used by your earlier version of ABBYY FlexiCapture. Then update the database to the new version and continue working with it. If you choose this method, you will no longer be able to work with your earlier version of ABBYY FlexiCapture.

<Note>
  After you complete the steps described in this section, you will no longer be able to use your earlier version of ABBYY FlexiCapture. For this reason, we recommend that you back up your old database and file storage location before you proceed. You can then use these back-up copies to restore the operation of your earlier version of ABBYY FlexiCapture if any problems occur. For details, see [Create an ABBYY FlexiCapture backup](/flexi-capture/appendix/backup).
</Note>

To connect to the old database, complete the following steps.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Finish processing in your earlier version of ABBYY FlexiCapture">
    1. Complete the processing of all the batches that have already been registered in the system.
    2. Start the Administration and Monitoring Console.
    3. Select **Settings → Cleanup** to remove any redundant data.
    4. Select **Monitoring → Sessions** to make sure there are no open sessions. If you see any open sessions, close the clients where these sessions are running.

    <Note>
      If you cannot close all of the clients with open sessions, disconnect the Application Server from the database: clear the value of `HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ABBYY\FlexiCapture\10.0 (or 11.0)\WebServices` `DBConnectionString` in the Windows registry and restart the World Wide Web Publishing Service in the `services.msc` snap-in. Once you complete this step, you will no longer be able to use your earlier version of ABBYY FlexiCapture.
    </Note>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Connect to the earlier-version database">
    1. Start the Administration and Monitoring Console of ABBYY FlexiCapture 12, select **Settings → Application server**, and click the **Connect to Existing Database** button.
    2. Specify the name of the database server, the name of the database, and the path to the file storage location used by your earlier version of ABBYY FlexiCapture, and click **OK**. For more information, see [Connect to an existing database](/flexi-capture/admin-guide/database-connect).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Update the database to ABBYY FlexiCapture 12">
    After you connect to the database, an **Upgrade** link appears next to the name of the database on the **Settings → Application server** page. Click this link to update the database to the version used by ABBYY FlexiCapture 12. Once you complete this step, you will no longer be able to use the database in earlier versions of ABBYY FlexiCapture.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Update the projects on the Application Server">
    <a id="updateproject" />Start the Project Setup Station of ABBYY FlexiCapture 12 and open all of the projects on the Application Server, one by one. When you open an old project, it is updated to the version used by ABBYY FlexiCapture 12.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## <a id="projectmigration" />Move projects created in an earlier version of ABBYY FlexiCapture to a new database

If you wish to keep your earlier version of ABBYY FlexiCapture and at the same time use its projects in ABBYY FlexiCapture 12, you need to create a new database in ABBYY FlexiCapture 12 and move the required projects to this database.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Export the projects from your earlier version">
    On the Project Setup Station of your earlier version of ABBYY FlexiCapture, open the projects on the Application Server, one by one, and use the **Project → Export Project** command in the main menu to export them to the file system. Only the projects are exported, not the documents, so be sure to complete the processing of the documents in your earlier version of ABBYY FlexiCapture first.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create a new database in ABBYY FlexiCapture 12">
    In the Administration and Monitoring Console of ABBYY FlexiCapture 12, create a new database and specify the path to the new file storage location. For detailed instructions, see [Create a database](/flexi-capture/admin-guide/create-database).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Update the projects and upload them to the Application Server">
    1. On the Project Setup Station of ABBYY FlexiCapture 12, open the exported `*.fcproj` projects, one by one. When you open an old project, it is updated to the version used by ABBYY FlexiCapture 12.
    2. Once a project has been updated, upload it onto the Application Server by selecting **File → Upload Project to Server** in the main menu of the Project Setup Station. For more information, see [Creating and opening projects](/flexi-capture/admin-guide/upload-project).
  </Step>
</Steps>