Symptoms

When processing a document using ABBYY FineReader Server Open API, the import fails with the "Unable to access the directory <path>. Please make sure that the directory exists and that you have sufficient permissions to access it. For instructions on setting up access permissions required by the ABBYY FineReader Server Open API, please refer to the documentation." error message. 

Cause

"Unable to access the directory" error usually occurs if the folder does not accessible from the current computer. The user account under which the Server Manager and Processing Station services are running doesn't have sufficient read/write permissions to the folder. 

Resolution

Change the user account under which the Server Manager and Processing Station services are running with the account that has sufficient read/write permissions to the folder:

1. Open the services manager on your machine.
2. Sort it by Name.
3. There should be 3 services, related to FRS 14:
   • ABBYY FineReader Server 14.0 - Licensing Service
   • ABBYY FineReader Server 14.0 - Processing Station
   • ABBYY FineReader Server 14.0 - Server Manager
4. Usually, they all should be running under the Local System at this moment.
5. Stop the ABBYY FineReader Server 14.0 - Processing Station service.
6. Open its properties and switch to the Log On tab.
7. Log in under a user account that has read/write access to the shared folder.
8. Start the ABBYY FineReader Server 14.0 - Processing Station service.
9. Repeat the 4-7 steps with the ABBYY FineReader Server 14.0 - Server Manager service
10. ABBYY FineReader Server 14.0 - Licensing Service can still be running under the Local System
    
    Check the following article to make sure all permissions are set correctly: Access permissions required by the Open API