Why do I receive the error "Permission Create Contracts depends on permission(s): Read Accounts" when configuring permissions?

When configuring permissions for objects like the Campaign Member object, you might receive one of the following errors:

Permission Create Contracts depends on permission(s): Read Accounts
Permission Delete Contracts depends on permission(s): Read Accounts
Permission Edit Contracts depends on permission(s): Read Accounts
Permission Read Contracts depends on permission(s): Read Accounts

This situation arises when the Accounts or the Contacts object's organization-wide permission is set to "Private".  Since the Account or Contact object is private, Soapbox Mailer doesn't have access to the relative data.  To fix this situation, you'll simply need to create a sharing rule that gives Soapbox Mailer access to these objects.

1. Go to Setup > Administration Setup > Manage Users > Public Groups
2. Check to see if you have created a Soapbox Mailer public group yet.  If yes, skip to step #5.  If not, click the New button
3. On the New Group page, enter the following information
   

   Label: Soapbox Mailer
   Group Name: Soapbox_Mailer
   Grant Access Using Hierarchies: (checked)
   Search: (select "Users" from the dropdown)
   Available Members -> Selected Members: Under "Available Members", select "Soapbox Mailer Email Tracking Site Guest User" and then click the Add arrow.

4. Click Save button
5. Go to Setup > Administration Setup > Security Controls > Sharing Settings
6. Under the Organization-Wide Defaults section, look for the Account object permissions.  If the Account object has its Default Access listed as "Private", it means that by default, your Account object (and therefore your Contact object when set to "Controlled by Parent" will not be accessible by Soapbox Mailer.  Continue to Step 3.  If it says anything else, you can skip the rest of this troubleshooting.
7. In the dropdown list next to "Managing sharing settings for:", choose the "Account" object.
8. On the Account sharing settings page, under the "Account Sharing Rules" section, click the New button.
9. On the Account Sharing Rule page, enter the following information:
   
   Label:  Soapbox Mailer Account Sharing
   Rule Name:  Soapbox_Mailer_Account_Sharing
   Rule Type:  Based on record owner
   Account: owned by members of:  Public Groups, All Internal Users
   Share with:  Public Groups, Soapbox Mailer
   Default Account, Contract and Asset Access:  Read-Only
   Contact Access:  Read-Only
10. Click the Save button
11. Go to Setup > Build > Develop > Sites
12. Click on the "Soapbox Mailer Email Tracking" site link
13. On the Soapbox Mailer Email Tracking site page, click on the Public Access Settings button
14. On the Soapbox Mailer Email Tracking Profile page, click on the "Object Settings" link
15. On the Soapbox Mailer Email Tracking Profile page under Object Settings, click on the "Accounts" link
16. On the Accounts page, click on the Edit button
17. In edit mode on the Accounts page, under the Object Permissions section, check the checkbox for enabling Read permissions
18. Click the Save button
19. Go to Setup > Administration Setup > Security Controls > Sharing Settings
20. Under the Organization-Wide Defaults section, look for the Contact object permissions.  If the Contact object has its Default Access listed as "Private", it means that by default, your Contact object will not be accessible by Soapbox Mailer.  Continue to next step.  If it says anything else, you can skip the rest of this troubleshooting.
21. In the dropdown list next to "Managing sharing settings for:", choose the "Contact" object.
22. On the Contact sharing settings page, under the "Contact Sharing Rules" section, click the New button.
23. On the Contact Sharing Rule page, enter the following information:Label:  Soapbox Mailer Contact Sharing
    
    Rule Name:  Soapbox_Mailer_Contact_Sharing
    Rule Type:  Based on record owner
    Contact: owned by members of:  Public Groups, All Internal Users
    Share with:  Public Groups, Soapbox Mailer
    Contact Access:  Read-Only
    Click the Save button
24. Go back to the process of configuring your Soapbox Mailer object permissions, and continue on your way

Happy emailing!