> ## 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. # ABBYY FlexiCapture - Readme > Readme for ABBYY FlexiCapture 12: system requirements, supported virtual environments, and standalone or distributed installation and setup steps. ## About the program **ABBYY FlexiCapture** is a highly scalable platform for intelligent data and document capture. It extracts data from unstructured and structured paper documents, scans, email messages, and other sources for subsequent use in document management systems. The four basic data extraction operations in ABBYY FlexiCapture are classification, optical recognition, verification, and export to ERP, ECM, or BPM systems. ABBYY FlexiCapture handles the full range of data processing needs, from small-scale projects to distributed industrial capture of large volumes of data, with the high levels of security and reliability expected from enterprise-grade software. The basic document processing scenario is as follows: 1. Documents are placed in the automatic scanner feeder and scanning begins. Images can also be imported from email, a mobile device, or other sources. 2. Scanned document images are submitted for recognition, at which point the software automatically identifies documents (including multipage documents), locates meaningful fields, extracts data, and loads check rules. 3. After recognition is complete, the extracted data is validated against the automatic check rules. If necessary, a visual check for data and rule errors is started. 4. Recognized and verified data, along with electronic copies of the documents, is saved to a database, an information system, or a file. ABBYY FlexiCapture has two installation types: * Standalone * Distributed The installation type is selected during product installation. Each type requires a different serial number. ## Software and hardware requirements **CPU** 2 GHz or faster **Operating system** * Windows 10 * Windows 11 To use a localized version of ABBYY FlexiCapture, make sure your operating system supports the corresponding GUI language. **RAM** At least 4 GB **Disk space** 4 GB (including 2 GB for installation) **Other requirements** * Microsoft .NET Framework 4.7.2 or later. To look up your .NET Framework version in the registry, see this [Microsoft web page](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/framework/migration-guide/how-to-determine-which-versions-are-installed). * Microsoft .NET Runtime 8.0 or later * Microsoft Office (version 2007 or later) or LibreOffice (version 4.0 or later) * A scanner with TWAIN, WIA, or ISIS support ### Servers **CPU** * Application Server: 2 GHz or faster with 2 cores * Other servers: 2 GHz or faster **Operating system** * Windows Server 2012 * Windows Server 2012 R2 * Windows Server 2016 * Windows Server 2019 * Windows Server 2022 * Windows Server 2025 To use a localized version of ABBYY FlexiCapture, make sure your operating system supports the corresponding GUI language. **RAM** At least 2 GB for each component. An additional 4 GB of RAM is required if the Database Server is installed. **Disk space** * Application Server: 500 MB for installation * Processing Server: 400 MB for installation * Licensing Server: 100 MB for installation * 2 GB for the SQL Server database * Additional space is required for the file storage **Browser** (to open the Administration and Monitoring Console) * Google Chrome 55 or later (32-bit) * Mozilla Firefox 50 or later (32-bit) * Microsoft Edge 41 or later * Internet Explorer 11 ABBYY FlexiCapture works best with Google Chrome and other Chromium-based browsers. To ensure that Internet Explorer 11 works correctly, install .NET Framework 4.7.2 on the computer with the Application Server, or add the address of an application server to the list of websites that are opened in compatibility mode. **Disclaimer for Internet Explorer users / Known issue** Due to the known limitations of Internet Explorer 11, you may experience issues when processing more than 100 pages or handling numerous verification tasks with ABBYY FlexiCapture. Using Internet Explorer for an extended period can cause the browser to consume a lot of the machine's memory, slow down client performance, and eventually crash. To avoid unwanted interruptions, ABBYY recommends using Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, or another browser for professional verification tasks. ABBYY FlexiCapture web stations are fully functional in Internet Explorer 11, so use it preferably for ad-hoc processing. Important notes for users of Internet Explorer: 1. In the event of a verification malfunction, the operator cannot resume the task immediately after the session is restored. The task becomes available only after inactive sessions have been purged. By default, inactive sessions are purged every 4 hours. You can change this setting in the `web.config` file on the Processing Server. Purging inactive sessions too often is not recommended; the recommended minimum is 10 minutes. 2. Starting from FlexiCapture R3 Update 1, each new task opens in a new tab to optimize memory use. This also means operators cannot receive new tasks automatically. To revert to the old behavior, open the `web.config` file for the web station and set the `IEVerificationNewWindow` key to `false`. 3. In Internet Explorer 11, users cannot enter Japanese text using the corresponding Microsoft IME. **Other requirements** * The computer where the server is installed must be connected to your domain * Video card and display with a resolution of 1024×768 * Internet Information Services 7 or higher * Microsoft .NET Framework 4.7.2 or higher * Microsoft .NET Runtime 8.0 or later * One of the following databases: Microsoft SQL Server 2016 SP2, 2017, 2019, or 2022; Microsoft Azure; Oracle Database 12c, 18c, or 19c; or PostgreSQL 11 or later * Visual C++ 2015 Redistributable Microsoft SQL Server Native Client 2016 SP1 or later is additionally required for [creating databases](/flexi-capture/admin-guide/create-database). ### Stations **CPU** 2 GHz or faster **Operating system** * Windows 10 * Windows 11 * Windows Server 2012 + Desktop Experience * Windows Server 2012 R2 + Desktop Experience * Windows Server 2016 + Desktop Experience * Windows Server 2019 + Desktop Experience * Windows Server 2022 + Desktop Experience * Windows Server 2025 + Desktop Experience To use a localized version of ABBYY FlexiCapture, make sure your operating system supports the corresponding GUI language. **RAM** * Project Setup Station, Verification Station, Data Verification Station: 2 GB * Processing Station: at least 2.5 GB for each CPU core * Scanning Station: 1 GB **Disk space** * Scanning Station: 1 GB (including 200 MB for installation and sufficient disk space for scanned images) * Other stations: 4 GB (including 2 GB for installation) **Other requirements** * A scanner with TWAIN, WIA, or ISIS support * Video card and display with a resolution of 1024×768 * The computer where the station is installed must be connected to your domain * Microsoft .NET Framework 4.7.2 or later * Microsoft .NET Runtime 8.0 or later * Microsoft Office (version 2007 or later) or LibreOffice (version 4.0 or later) ### HTML5 web stations **CPU** 1.6 GHz or faster **Operating system** * Windows 10 * Windows 11 * Windows Server 2012 + Desktop Experience * Windows Server 2012 R2 + Desktop Experience * Windows Server 2016 + Desktop Experience * Windows Server 2019 + Desktop Experience * Windows Server 2022 + Desktop Experience * Windows Server 2025 + Desktop Experience To use a localized version of ABBYY FlexiCapture, make sure your operating system supports the corresponding GUI language. **RAM** 1 GB **Disk space** * Sufficient space to install a browser * At least 100 MB for program operation * An additional 560 MB is required to install the ABBYY Scanning Plugin for the Web Scanning Station **Browser** * Google Chrome 55 or later (32-bit). Security settings: JavaScript = Allow all sites; plugins = Run automatically. * Mozilla Firefox 50 or later (32-bit). Security settings: Java scripting = Enable; Firefox will remember history (**Options → Privacy**). * Microsoft Edge 41 or later. Security settings: JavaScript = Allow all sites; plugins = Run automatically. * Internet Explorer 11. Browser security level: medium-high. Required settings: Run ActiveX controls and plugins = Enable; Script ActiveX controls marked safe for scripting = Enable; Active scripting = Enable. In Google Chrome, all plugins are disabled by default. To enable a plugin, open `chrome://plugins/` and select **Always allowed** for the plugin. ABBYY FlexiCapture works best with Google Chrome and other Chromium-based browsers. The Metro-style version of Internet Explorer 10 that comes with Windows 8 is not supported. To ensure that Internet Explorer 11 works correctly, install .NET Framework 4.7.2 on the computer with the Application Server, or add the address of an application server to the list of websites that are opened in compatibility mode. **Disclaimer for Internet Explorer users / Known issue** Due to the known limitations of Internet Explorer 11, you may experience issues when processing more than 100 pages or handling numerous verification tasks with ABBYY FlexiCapture. Using Internet Explorer for an extended period can cause the browser to consume a lot of the machine's memory, slow down client performance, and eventually crash. To avoid unwanted interruptions, ABBYY recommends using Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, or another browser for professional verification tasks. ABBYY FlexiCapture web stations are fully functional in Internet Explorer 11, so use it preferably for ad-hoc processing. Important notes for users of Internet Explorer: 1. In the event of a verification malfunction, the operator cannot resume the task immediately after the session is restored. The task becomes available only after inactive sessions have been purged. By default, inactive sessions are purged every 4 hours. You can change this setting in the `web.config` file on the Processing Server. Purging inactive sessions too often is not recommended; the recommended minimum is 10 minutes. 2. Starting from FlexiCapture R3 Update 1, each new task opens in a new tab to optimize memory use. This also means operators cannot receive new tasks automatically. To revert to the old behavior, open the `web.config` file for the web station and set the `IEVerificationNewWindow` key to `false`. 3. In Internet Explorer 11, users cannot enter Japanese text using the corresponding Microsoft IME. **Other requirements** * Video card and display with a resolution of 1024×768 * For the Web Scanning Station: a scanner supporting the TWAIN interface (WIA scanners can be accessed from the station but may not operate properly), and the ABBYY Scanning Plugin ### ABBYY Scanning Plugin To ensure the correct operation of the Web Scanning Station, you must install the ABBYY Scanning Plugin. The following table lists the operating systems on which the ABBYY Scanning Plugin can be installed, and the permissions required. **Can install** indicates whether the plugin's executable file can be installed. | OS | Permissions | UAC | Can install | | :--------------------- | :------------ | :---------- | :---------- | | Windows Server 2012\* | Administrator | Recommended | Yes | | Windows Server 2012\* | Administrator | No | Yes | | Windows Server 2012\* | User | Recommended | No | | Windows Server 2012\* | User | No | No | | Windows Server 2012 R2 | Administrator | Recommended | Yes | | Windows Server 2012 R2 | Administrator | No | Yes | | Windows Server 2012 R2 | User | Recommended | No | | Windows Server 2012 R2 | User | No | No | | Windows 10 | Administrator | Recommended | Yes | | Windows 10 | Administrator | No | Yes | | Windows 10 | User | Recommended | Yes | | Windows 10 | User | No | Yes | | Windows 11 | Administrator | Recommended | Yes | | Windows 11 | Administrator | No | Yes | | Windows 11 | User | Recommended | Yes | | Windows 11 | User | No | Yes | \* To allow the ABBYY Scanning Plugin to be installed on Windows Server 2012, run the executable file `Setup.exe` as Administrator, or change the security policy by setting the value of the registry key `HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Installer DisableMSI` to `0`. For more information, see [Install the ABBYY Scanning Plugin](/flexi-capture/web-stations/scan-station-plugin). ### Remote Verification Station **CPU** 2 GHz or faster **Operating system** * Windows 10 * Windows 11 * Windows Server 2012 + Desktop Experience * Windows Server 2012 R2 + Desktop Experience * Windows Server 2016 + Desktop Experience * Windows Server 2019 + Desktop Experience * Windows Server 2022 + Desktop Experience * Windows Server 2025 + Desktop Experience To use a localized version of ABBYY FlexiCapture, make sure your operating system supports the corresponding GUI language. **RAM** 1 GB **Disk space** 400 MB **Other requirements** * Video card and display with a resolution of 1024×768 * Microsoft .NET Framework 4.7.2 or later * Microsoft .NET Runtime 8.0 or later ### ClickOnce Scanning Station **CPU** 2 GHz or faster **Operating system** * Windows 10 * Windows 11 * Windows Server 2012 + Desktop Experience * Windows Server 2012 R2 + Desktop Experience * Windows Server 2016 + Desktop Experience * Windows Server 2019 + Desktop Experience * Windows Server 2022 + Desktop Experience * Windows Server 2025 + Desktop Experience To use a localized version of ABBYY FlexiCapture, make sure your operating system supports the corresponding GUI language. **RAM** 1 GB **Disk space** 1.5 GB (including 550 MB for installation and sufficient space for scanned images). The downloadable file is 270 MB. **Browser** For ClickOnce deployment: Internet Explorer 11 To ensure that Internet Explorer 11 works correctly, install .NET Framework 4.7.2 on the computer with the Application Server, or add the address of an application server to the list of websites that are opened in compatibility mode. **Disclaimer for Internet Explorer users / Known issue** Due to the known limitations of Internet Explorer 11, you may experience issues when processing more than 100 pages or handling numerous verification tasks with ABBYY FlexiCapture. Using Internet Explorer for an extended period can cause the browser to consume a lot of the machine's memory, slow down client performance, and eventually crash. To avoid unwanted interruptions, ABBYY recommends using Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, or another browser for professional verification tasks. ABBYY FlexiCapture web stations are fully functional in Internet Explorer 11, so use it preferably for ad-hoc processing. Important notes for users of Internet Explorer: 1. In the event of a verification malfunction, the operator cannot resume the task immediately after the session is restored. The task becomes available only after inactive sessions have been purged. By default, inactive sessions are purged every 4 hours. You can change this setting in the `web.config` file on the Processing Server. Purging inactive sessions too often is not recommended; the recommended minimum is 10 minutes. 2. Starting from FlexiCapture R3 Update 1, each new task opens in a new tab to optimize memory use. This also means operators cannot receive new tasks automatically. To revert to the old behavior, open the `web.config` file for the web station and set the `IEVerificationNewWindow` key to `false`. 3. In Internet Explorer 11, users cannot enter Japanese text using the corresponding Microsoft IME. **Other requirements** * A scanner with TWAIN, WIA, or ISIS support * Video card and display with a resolution of 1024×768 * Microsoft .NET Framework 4.7.2 or later * Microsoft .NET Runtime 8.0 or later ## Supported virtual environments The following virtual machines are supported: * **Virtual platforms that emulate physical machines:** * VMware Workstation (any version) * Hyper-V (any version). **Note:** the Hyper-V version corresponds to the operating system version, and Hyper-V virtual machines do not work with USB devices. * Oracle VirtualBox (any version) * VMware ESXi (the server included with VMware vSphere, any version) * **Virtual platforms that emulate workstations and applications:** * VMware Horizon 5.2.0 * Citrix XenApp 7.13 * **Cloud services:** * Microsoft Azure * Amazon Cloud ## Install the program Close all other applications before you install the program. Before installing and setting up ABBYY FlexiCapture, disable User Account Control (UAC). For instructions, see [ABBYY Support](https://support.abbyy.com/hc/en-us). Alternatively, install using the built-in administrator account. Place the ABBYY FlexiCapture DVD-ROM into the DVD-ROM drive. On the **Autorun** menu, select **Standalone Installation** and follow the instructions of the setup wizard. If Autorun is disabled on your computer, double-click the `autorun.exe` file located on the DVD-ROM. The setup wizard compares the locale of your system with the selected language, checks the version of your operating system, and checks for administrative privileges. If the languages are incompatible, the operating system is not supported, or you do not have administrative privileges, a warning message is displayed. When all checks pass, the end-user license agreement is displayed. Read it carefully. If you agree with the terms, select the corresponding option and click **Next**. In the **Setup Type** dialog box, select one of the available installation modes: * **Administrator Station** – Installs the Administrator Station, FormDesigner, and FlexiLayout Studio. Select this option to set up ABBYY FlexiCapture to process a specific kind of document. * **Operator Station** – Installs only the Operator Station. Select this option to start processing documents as an Operator. * **Administrator and Operator Stations** (selected by default) – Installs the Administrator Station, the Operator Station, FormDesigner, and FlexiLayout Studio. Select this option to set up ABBYY FlexiCapture to process a specific kind of document and start processing documents as an Operator. Select a destination folder. The program files are copied onto your computer. **FlexiCapture License Manager** launches automatically so that you can activate your copy of the application. Enter your serial number and activate the application. To install and set up the server components of ABBYY FlexiCapture, you must first install Internet Information Services (IIS), Microsoft .NET Framework, and Microsoft SQL Server. Internet Information Services (IIS) and Microsoft .NET Framework are installed via the Server Manager console (**Start → All Programs → Administrative Tools → Server Manager**): In **Server Manager**, click **Add roles and features**. In the **Server Roles** list, select **Web Server (IIS)**. If IIS is already installed on your computer, make sure that the following IIS components are selected: **Web Management Tools** * IIS 6 Management Compatibility * IIS Scripting Tools * IIS 6 WMI Compatibility * IIS Metabase and IIS 6 configuration compatibility * IIS Management Console **World Wide Web Services** * Application Development Features * .NET Extensibility * ASP.NET * ISAPI Extensions * ISAPI Filters * Common HTTP Features * Default Document * HTTP Errors * HTTP Redirection * Static Content * Security * Basic Authentication * Request Filtering * Windows Authentication You can additionally install any other IIS components that you need, or install IIS in its entirety. In the **Features** list, select **.NET Framework 4.5 Features** and make sure that the following components are selected: * .NET Framework (includes .NET 2.0 and 3.0) * .NET Framework 4.5 Advanced Services * ASP.NET 4.5 * WCF Services * TCP Port Sharing Microsoft SQL Server can be installed from the ABBYY FlexiCapture 12 setup package: Run `Autorun.exe`. Click **2. Distributed Installation → 1. Install External Components → Microsoft SQL Server 2016 SP1 Express**. When installing Microsoft SQL Server, specify the following: * **Named instance**: for example, `SQLExpress` * **Authentication Mode**: Mixed Mode (SQL Server authentication and Windows authentication) * The password for the SQL Server system administrator (sa) account and SQL Server administrators ### Install servers On the **Autorun** menu, click **2. Distributed Installation → 2. Install Servers** and follow the instructions of the setup wizard. In the **Custom Setup** dialog box, select the following components: * Processing Server * Protection Server * Application Server * Web Stations Specify a destination folder. Once the setup is finished, the following launch automatically: * The License Manager utility, where you can activate your serial number. * The Administration and Monitoring Console, where you can set up the Application Server. You can also launch the License Manager and the Administration and Monitoring Console manually by clicking **Start → All Programs → ABBYY FlexiCapture 12 Servers**. ### Install stations On the **Autorun** menu, click **2. Distributed Installation → 2. Install Workstations** and follow the instructions of the setup wizard. In the **Custom Setup** dialog box, select the components you want to install (by default, all components are selected) and specify a destination folder. In the **Protection Server Location** dialog box, keep the default value (`127.0.0.1`). In the **User account** dialog box, select this account for the processing service: **Default account (NT AUTHORITY\Network Service)**. ## Set up ABBYY FlexiCapture Open the Console under a user account that has administrative privileges, using one of these methods: * Click **Start → All Programs → ABBYY FlexiCapture 12 Servers → Administration and Monitoring Console**, or * Click this link: [https://localhost/FlexiCapture12/Monitoring/#Settings/DbConn](https://localhost/FlexiCapture12/Monitoring/DBConnection.aspx#/DBConnection?info) Click **Settings → Application Server**, and then click **Create new database**. In the window that opens, specify the following: | Setting | Value | | :----------------------------- | :---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Server instance name** | `(local)\sqlexpress`. If Microsoft SQL Server is not installed locally, the server instance name looks like `\sqlexpress`. | | **Database name** | `FCDemoDataBase` | | **Authentication settings** | Database Server Authentication | | **User name** and **Password** | The name and password of the database administrator specified when installing Microsoft SQL Server | | **Use external file storage** | Select this option and specify the path to a file storage location, for example `C:\FileStorage` | Click **OK** to create the database. Once the database is created, you are issued a temporary password, the word `password`. Open the login page ([https://localhost/FlexiCapture12/Login](https://localhost/FlexiCapture12/Login)) and change this password. For more information, see [Create a database](/flexi-capture/admin-guide/create-database). Click **Start → All Programs → ABBYY FlexiCapture 12 Servers → Processing Server**. On the **Actions** menu, click **Add Server → Local Host**. Make sure that the Processing Server is running. Otherwise, click **Actions → Start**. Select the **Stations** item in the **ABBYY FlexiCapture 12 Servers** tree, select **\**, and then click **Actions → Add Stations**. In the window that opens, click **By name** and type `localhost` to add the locally installed Processing Station. Start the Processing Station (**Actions → Start**). For more information, see [Set up the Processing Server](/flexi-capture/admin-guide/processing-server-setup). Click **Start → All Programs → ABBYY FlexiCapture 12 Stations → Project Setup Station**. Click **File → Open Project**. You can select any of the sample projects stored in `%public%\ABBYY\FlexiCapture\12.0\Samples`. Click **File → Upload Project to Server**. Enter the address of the Application Server in the format [https://localhost](https://localhost). If the Project Setup Station and the Application Server are installed on different computers, the server address looks like `https://`, where `` is the name of the computer on which the Application Server is installed. Select **Use server authentication** and enter the name and password of the database administrator. To demonstrate how images can be imported from Hot Folders, enable Hot Folder processing in the Administration and Monitoring Console (click **Settings → Projects**). ABBYY FlexiCapture 12 is now ready for demonstration.