Create an ABBYY FlexiCapture backup

ABBYY FlexiCapture stores data in a database and in a file storage. The two must always match. If they drift apart, you may not be able to recover cleanly from an unexpected crash. Mismatched data has two possible consequences:

Partial loss of data
Inability to resume processing from where it stopped

A regular system backup avoids both consequences.

Back up your system

Backing up takes four steps, two of which change an Application Server key.

Run the backup at times of low system load. Under heavy load it takes too long to complete.

Stop the Application Server deleting old files

Set the FileRemovingDisabled key to true, and then wait at least five minutes for the change to take effect.

Back up the database

Use the backup tools supplied by your database manufacturer.

Back up the file storage

Use a backup utility such as nnBackup.

Let the Application Server delete old files again

Set the FileRemovingDisabled key back to false. The system then deletes old files whenever batches are deleted.

Automate the backup with a Windows PowerShell script

# Change Application Server settings to stop deleting old files from file storage
Add-WebConfigurationProperty -pspath 'MACHINE/WEBROOT/APPHOST/Default Web Site/FlexiCapture12/Server'  -filter "appSettings" -name "." -value @{key='FileRemovingDisabled';value='false'}
Set-WebConfigurationProperty -pspath 'MACHINE/WEBROOT/APPHOST/Default Web Site/FlexiCapture12/Server'  -filter "appSettings/add[@key='FileRemovingDisabled']" -name "value" -value "true"

# Timer for setting to apply
Start-Sleep 5 # in seconds

# Back up SQL databases
$backupFolder = 'D:\SQLBackUps'
$user = 'user'
$pass = 'password'
$inst = 'SQL_Server_Instance_Name'
$db   = 'DB_Name'
$file = "$backupFolder\${db}.bak"
$secpasswd = ConvertTo-SecureString $pass -AsPlainText -Force
$cred = New-Object System.Management.Automation.PSCredential ($user, $secpasswd)
Backup-SqlDatabase -ServerInstance $inst -Database $db -Credential $cred -BackupFile $file -Initialize

# Back up file storage
C:\Windows\System32\wbadmin.exe start backup -backuptarget:f: -include:d:\filestorage -quiet -vssCopy

# Change Application Server settings to resume deleting old files from file storage
Set-WebConfigurationProperty -pspath 'MACHINE/WEBROOT/APPHOST/Default Web Site/FlexiCapture12/Server'  -filter "appSettings/add[@key='FileRemovingDisabled']" -name "value" -value "false"

The example uses the Windows wbadmin command to back up the file storage.

Restore your system

Restoring rebuilds the installation, and then reconnects it to the restored database and file storage.

Migrating a system requires administrative privileges, and the person who created the database should carry it out. If someone else does, confirm first that they can reach the new server and its database.

Install the system on the prepared computers

Install the external components first, and then the servers and the stations.

Connect your license key or activate your software license

For more information, see Activate a license.

Restore the database on the server

Use the restore tools supplied by your database manufacturer.

Restore the file storage

Use the same backup utility you used to create the copy.

Connect the Application Server to the restored database

Open the Administration and Monitoring Console and connect to the existing database. Provide the path to the restored database and the path to the restored file storage.

​Back up your system

​Automate the backup with a Windows PowerShell script

​Restore your system

Back up your system

Automate the backup with a Windows PowerShell script

Restore your system