> ## 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.
# Back up FlexiLayouts
> Create manual or automatic backups of FlexiLayouts, restore earlier versions, and compare changes in the Backup Versions dialog box of FlexiLayout Studio.
FlexiLayout Studio lets you create backup copies of FlexiLayouts and view the differences between versions of a FlexiLayout. Backup copies are stored in projects, which can contain an unlimited number of them. However, a project can only contain one current version that is available for use.
Backup copies include [elements](/flexi-capture/fls/template/elements), [blocks](/flexi-capture/fls/template/blocks), [pre-recognition parameters](/flexi-capture/fls/batch/prerecognition-param), [named parameters](/flexi-capture/fls/settings/named-param), [global constants](/flexi-capture/fls/code/global-constant) and [multi-page parameters](/flexi-capture/fls/template/multipage).
Each backup copy has the following properties:
| Property | Description |
| :------------------------- | :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Version number | Identifies the copy. This number is generated automatically and cannot be edited. |
| Date and time created | When the backup copy was created. |
| Date and time last changed | When the last changes were made to the copy. |
| Comment | The **Comment** property of the FlexiLayout. To view or edit it, click **FlexiLayout → Properties...** and select the **General** tab. |
Backup copies cannot be edited. You can replace the current version with a backup copy using the **Restore** command. For more information, see [Backup Versions dialog box](#backup-versions-dialog-box).
## Create backup copies of FlexiLayouts
Backup copies can be created manually or automatically.
### Create backup copies manually
Click **Project → Create backup...**.
Optionally, add a comment for the backup copy. This comment replaces the **Comment** property of the original FlexiLayout.
Click **Create**.
After the backup copy has been created, you can continue working on the current version of the FlexiLayout.
### Create backup copies automatically
FlexiLayout Studio can create backup copies automatically when you export a FlexiLayout.
Click **Tools → Options**, and then select the **Other** tab.
Select one of the following options from the **Create backup version on export** drop-down list.
| Option | Behavior |
| :----------------------- | :---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Always ask** (default) | Every time you use the **Export...** command to export a FlexiLayout, a dialog box asks whether to create a backup copy. If you enable the **Always do the selected action on Export** option in that dialog box, your choice is remembered, replacing the **Always ask** setting with **Always create** or **Never create**, depending on the option you select. Click **Create** to open the backup dialog box. |
| **Always create** | The backup dialog box opens every time you use the **Export...** command to export a FlexiLayout. |
| **Never create** | Backup copies of FlexiLayouts are not created automatically. |
When a backup copy is created, you can specify a comment for it. This comment replaces the **Comment** property of the original FlexiLayout.
## Backup Versions dialog box
The **Backup Versions** dialog box lists the backup copies of the current FlexiLayout. Use it to roll back the current version to a copy, delete copies, or view the differences between the current version and a backup copy.
To open the dialog box, click **Project → Backup Manager...**.
In the dialog box, you can perform these actions:
* **Restore** – Roll back the current version to the selected backup copy.
* **Delete** – Delete the selected backup copy.
* **Show changes** – View the differences between the current version and the selected backup copy. For more information, see [View changes to the FlexiLayout tree](#view-changes-to-the-flexilayout-tree).
The rollback operation replaces the current version with the selected backup copy. Any changes to the current version will be lost, and this operation cannot be undone.
You can sort the listed backup copies by the values in any column.
### View changes to the FlexiLayout tree
You can view the differences between the current version of the FlexiLayout and a backup copy as a list of elements and blocks. Each item has one of the following statuses.
| Status | Meaning |
| :----------- | :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Deleted** | Elements and blocks present in the backup copy but absent from the current version. |
| **Added** | Elements and blocks present in the current version but absent from the backup copy. |
| **Modified** | Elements and blocks present in both the backup copy and the current version, but with some changed properties (click to view the changes). |
If changes were made to a group of elements, the entire group (including child elements) appears in the list. Elements and blocks that did not change are not included.
To sort items by name or by the type of changes, click the corresponding column heading.
You can open items directly from the list:
* To open an element or block in the FlexiLayout tree, double-click it in the list.
* To open the properties dialog box of an element or field on the tab that contains the modified property, double-click the property in the detailed list of changes.