ManageBac+ and iSAMS Integration
Learn how the ManageBac+ integration with iSAMS works, which fields are supported, and where to look when troubleshooting synchronisation issues. This guide also explains setup requirements and which queries should be directed to iSAMS or ManageBac+ support.
ManageBac+ integrates with iSAMS through a one way synchronisation that sends student, parent, and staff data from iSAMS into ManageBac+. This allows schools to manage core user records in iSAMS and have those changes reflected in ManageBac+ automatically.
This article is intended as a reference guide for setup, supported fields, and troubleshooting. It also includes important notes about required fields, staff synchronisation, year group filtering, and support responsibilities.
Overview
What is iSAMS?
iSAMS is a web based Management Information System designed for schools. It provides a central database to support school operations, including administration, communication, and record management.
How does the integration work?
The integration provides one way synchronisation of student, parent, and staff data from iSAMS into ManageBac+.
- Students are matched using School Code in iSAMS and Student ID in ManageBac+. Data in iSAMS overrides the corresponding data in ManageBac+.
- Parents are synchronised according to the Contact Types selected in iSAMS.
- Staff are matched automatically based on e mail address.
Key Concepts
Supported fields for synchronisation
The following iSAMS fields are supported for synchronisation to ManageBac+. Fields shown in bold are required to create a user in ManageBac+ via the iSAMS data integration.
Students
| Field | Field |
|---|---|
| First Name | E mail Address |
| Middle Name | Enrolment Date on creation |
| Last Name | School Code in iSAMS = Student ID in ManageBac+ |
| Preferred Name | iSAMS Student ID |
| Date of Birth | Address Line 1 |
| Gender | Address Line 2 |
| Year Grade Number | City |
| Status | State |
| Mobile Telephone | Post Code |
| Nationality using ISO values | |
| Language using ISO values |
Parents
| Field | Field |
|---|---|
| Title or Profession | Home Phone Number |
| Salutation or Title | Address Line 1 |
| First Name | Address Line 2 |
| Last Name | City |
| E mail Address | State |
| Mobile Telephone | Post Code |
| Country |
Teachers
| Field | Field |
|---|---|
| First Name | Home Phone Number |
| Last Name | Mobile Telephone |
| Preferred Name | Address Line 1 |
| Gender | Address Line 2 |
| E mail Address | City |
| Date of Birth | State |
| Language | Postcode |
| Nationality | Country |
Year group filtering
Schools can choose which iSAMS year groups synchronise to ManageBac+ by navigating to Control Panel > Legacy Integrations > ManageBac+ > Configuration > Form Grade Mapping and removing the mapped ManageBac+ grades for the iSAMS year groups that should not sync.
Tips & Best Practices
- Ensure your school has an active account in both ManageBac+ and iSAMS before requesting the integration.
- Review the Integration Setup Guide attached to this article before contacting support.
- Send your completed setup information to support@managebac.com so our team can review field mapping and data consistency before enabling synchronisation.
- Confirm that student IDs, parent contact mappings, and staff e mail addresses are accurate before the sync begins.
- Where staff synchronisation is enabled, review user permissions carefully before selecting third party access for each user.
Warnings & Important Notes
- Synchronisation is one way only, from iSAMS into ManageBac+.
- Fields shown in bold in the supported field lists are required to create a ManageBac+ user through the integration.
- During the sync process, your iSAMS account will temporarily be placed into Maintenance Mode. This prevents staff from logging in until the setup process is complete.
- Expected downtime is approximately 1 to 4 hours, depending on the number of students.
- If Manage Users within iSAMS is enabled and third party access to ManageBac+ is later unticked for a user, that user’s ManageBac+ account will be deleted.
- If no student e mail address is entered in iSAMS, a placeholder e mail address will be created automatically in ManageBac+ because e mail is optional in iSAMS but required in ManageBac+.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I set up the iSAMS integration?
You must have an active ManageBac+ account and an active iSAMS account. Review the Integration Setup Guide attached to this article, then contact support@managebac.com. Our team will review the information you provide, confirm that the data matches between both systems, and then proceed with enabling the synchronisation. If discrepancies are found, we will contact you before the sync is enabled.
How do I sync administrators and staff from iSAMS to ManageBac+?
To allow administrators and staff to sync from iSAMS to ManageBac+, enable user management in iSAMS > Control Panel > 3rd Party Integrations > ManageBac+ > Manage Users within iSAMS > Enabled.
After this setting is enabled, each user must also be granted access individually through Control Panel Home > Security & Permissions > User Accounts > select user > Control Panel > 3rd Party Access > Select to allow this user access to ManageBac+.
Why were new students created in ManageBac+ with placeholder e mail addresses?
If a student record in iSAMS does not include an e mail address, ManageBac+ creates a placeholder e mail address automatically. This happens because e mail is optional in iSAMS but mandatory in ManageBac+. Updating the student’s e mail address in iSAMS will allow the correct value to sync.
Why are newly added users in iSAMS not appearing in ManageBac+?
Check the following points:
- Confirm that the integration is enabled in iSAMS > Control Panel > 3rd Party Integrations.
- Confirm that the API key entered in iSAMS matches the API key in ManageBac+.
- For students, confirm that School Code in iSAMS matches Student ID in ManageBac+, and that the student is marked as current in iSAMS.
- For parents, confirm that iSAMS parent types are mapped correctly to ManageBac+ contact types in Contact Type Mapping.
- For teachers and administrators, confirm that third party access has been granted in iSAMS.
If all of the above is correct and the issue persists, please contact the iSAMS Helpdesk.
Why are students arriving with the wrong nationality, language, or country?
Check whether countries, nationalities, and languages are mapped to the correct ISO names and codes in iSAMS > Control Panel > Mappings Manager.
Why are students arriving with the wrong grade level?
Check that grade levels are mapped correctly between iSAMS > Control Panel > 3rd Party Integration > ManageBac+ > Configuration Page > Form Grade Mapping and ManageBac+ > Settings > School Settings > Grades & Levels.
When should I contact iSAMS and when should I contact ManageBac+?
| Issue | Contact |
|---|---|
| A student appears as active in iSAMS but does not appear in ManageBac+ after all checks above have been completed | iSAMS |
| You cannot find the iSAMS Control Panel or another iSAMS page shown in the screenshots above | iSAMS |
| You are seeing duplicate students or parents in ManageBac+ | ManageBac+ |
| A student who previously existed in iSAMS is missing from ManageBac+ | ManageBac+ |
| You cannot find a student or parent in iSAMS | iSAMS |
| You need help transitioning iSAMS to the next academic year | iSAMS |
| You need help transitioning ManageBac+ to the next academic year | ManageBac+ |
For further questions about iSAMS, you can also access their help site directly.
In Summary
- The iSAMS integration provides one way synchronisation of student, parent, and staff data into ManageBac+.
- Accurate field mapping, required values, and correct permissions are essential for successful synchronisation.
- Troubleshooting responsibility depends on whether the issue relates to iSAMS configuration or data behaviour in ManageBac+.
This integration helps schools manage user data more efficiently while keeping core records aligned between iSAMS and ManageBac+.