> ## 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.

# Internal data storage

> Learn where the Scanning Station stores internal data, change the default storage path, and import batches created in earlier versions of the application.

The Scanning Station's internal data includes the images of scanned documents, the instructions for separating them into documents and batches, and the parameters for scanning, processing, and exporting images (batch types).

## Local storage

By default, the Scanning Station stores its internal data together with the application settings for the current user.

* Windows XP and Windows Server 2003: `%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data\ABBYY\ScanStationFC\4.0`
* Windows Vista, Windows 7, and later: `%LOCALAPPDATA%\ABBYY\ScanStationFC\4.0`

To change the default path, create the `"CustomDataFolder"="New_path"` value under the `[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ABBYY\ScanStationFC\4.0\Shell]` key in the Windows Registry.

## Credential roaming

If you use credential roaming, specify the following paths for internal data:

* Windows XP and Windows Server 2003: `%USERPROFILE%\Application Data\ABBYY\ScanStationFC\4.0`
* Windows Vista, Windows 7, and later: `%APPDATA%\ABBYY\ScanStationFC\4.0`

Storing internal data together with the application settings in the roaming user profile reduces network traffic.

## Import batches from earlier versions

When you launch ABBYY Scanning Station for the first time, it asks whether you want to import batches created in earlier versions of the application.

* Click **Yes** to copy the data from your old version of the Scanning Station (`%APPDATA%\ABBYY\ScanStationFC\<old version>`) to the folder used by the current version (`%LOCALAPPDATA%\ABBYY\ScanStationFC\4.0`).
* Click **No** to create a new folder for storing internal data.

<Note>
  If you delete the folder where ABBYY Scanning Station stores its internal data, the next time you start the Scanning Station it asks whether you want to import batches created in earlier versions of the application.
</Note>