> ## 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.

# Import databases and projects from earlier versions of ABBYY FlexiCapture

> Migrate to ABBYY FlexiCapture 12 by connecting to a database from an earlier version or importing exported projects into a new database.

<Info>
  This section is only available to users with System Administrator permissions.
</Info>

The distributed edition of ABBYY FlexiCapture uses projects that are stored in a database on the Application Server. There are two ways to migrate to ABBYY FlexiCapture 12 from an earlier version.

## Connect to a database created in an earlier version of ABBYY FlexiCapture

After you install ABBYY FlexiCapture 12, you can connect to a database and file storage created in an earlier version. Connecting updates the database to the FlexiCapture 12 format, after which you cannot use it in earlier versions.

<Note>
  Because the database becomes unusable in earlier versions, consider making a backup copy first. Create a backup in Microsoft SQL Server, Azure, Oracle, or PostgreSQL, and copy all the contents of the file storage. For the backup procedure, refer to the documentation for your database management system.
</Note>

<Steps>
  <Step title="Finish processing in your earlier version">
    Finish processing all existing batches. Optionally, open the Administration and Monitoring Console and delete unnecessary data by clicking **Settings → Cleanup**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Close all sessions">
    In the Administration and Monitoring Console, click **System Monitor → Sessions** and close all clients that have active sessions.

    <Note>
      If you cannot close all clients with active sessions, disconnect the Application Server from the database. Open the registry editor and delete the value of `HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ABBYY\FlexiCapture\10.0 (or 11.0)\WebServices` `DBConnectionString`. Then restart the World Wide Web Publishing Service in the Windows Services Console (`services.msc`). This makes the earlier version of ABBYY FlexiCapture unusable.
    </Note>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Connect to the earlier-version database">
    In the Administration and Monitoring Console of ABBYY FlexiCapture 12, click **Settings → Application server**, and then click **Connect to Existing Database**.

    Specify the database server name, the database name, and the path to the file storage used by the earlier version. Click **OK**. For more information, see [Connect to an existing database](/flexi-capture/admin-guide/database-connect).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Update the database">
    Click **Settings → Application server**, and then click the **Update** link next to the database name.

    <Note>
      Updating the database makes it incompatible with earlier versions of FlexiCapture.
    </Note>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open and update each project">
    In the Project Setup Station of ABBYY FlexiCapture 12, open each project on the Application Server. Opening a project updates it to the ABBYY FlexiCapture 12 format.

    <Note>
      Updated projects become incompatible with earlier versions of the program.
    </Note>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Publish the Document Definitions">
    Document Definitions in updated projects receive the **Edited** status, so you must publish them before use. In the Project Setup Station, click **Document Definitions** on the **Project** menu, select the Document Definitions, and then click **Publish**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Import projects from earlier versions of ABBYY FlexiCapture

To keep using the earlier version and also use its projects in ABBYY FlexiCapture 12, create a new FlexiCapture 12 database and import the projects into it.

<Warning>
  Existing documents are not imported with the projects.
</Warning>

<Steps>
  <Step title="Export the projects to files">
    On the Project Setup Station of the earlier version, open each project and export it by clicking **Export Project...** on the **Project** menu.

    <Note>
      If any documents are still processing, finish them before you export. Documents are not exported with the project.
    </Note>
  </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 a new file storage. For more information, see [Create a database](/flexi-capture/admin-guide/create-database).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open and update each project">
    In the Project Setup Station of ABBYY FlexiCapture 12, open each project file (`*.fcproj`). Opening a project updates it to the ABBYY FlexiCapture 12 format.

    <Note>
      Updated projects become incompatible with earlier versions of the program.
    </Note>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Publish the Document Definitions">
    Document Definitions in updated projects become unpublished, so you must publish them before use. In the Project Setup Station, click **Document Definitions** on the **Project** menu, select the Document Definitions, and then click **Publish**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Upload each project to the Application Server">
    Click **Upload Project to Server** on the **File** menu. For more information, see [Upload a project to the server](/flexi-capture/web-stations/monitoring-console/mmc-tenants-workspase#upload-a-project-to-the-server).
  </Step>
</Steps>