When you start an application, settings are imported, and when you close the application, the settings are exported.
If you start an application multiple times concurrently, the settings are imported only with the first started instance, and when you close the application, the settings are exported only after the last instance is closed.
If you start different applications that are configured in a single Flex configuration file, the settings are imported only when the first application starts, and when you exit, the settings are exported only after the last application is closed.