Supplemental balance sheet and cash flow information (goodwill) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 776,998		$ 725,937
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, gross, beginning of period	745,937		678,666
Accumulated impairment charges	(20,000)		(20,000)
Goodwill, net of accumulated impairment charges, beginning balance	725,937		658,666
Currency translation adjustment	(46)		105
Goodwill, gross, end of period	796,998		745,937
Accumulated impairment charges	(20,000)		(20,000)
Goodwill, net, end of period	776,998		725,937
New England Business Service Inc. (NEBS) [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	472,082
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, net, end of period	472,082
Designer Checks [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	77,970	[1]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, net, end of period	77,970	[1]
Hostopia.com Inc. [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	68,555
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, net, end of period	68,555
Custom Direct [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	66,269
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions			66,269
Goodwill, net, end of period	66,269
Banker's Dashboard [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	26,281	[1]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions	26,281	[1]
Goodwill, net, end of period	26,281	[1]
Abacus America Inc. [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	24,225
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, net, end of period	24,225
Johnson Group [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	7,320	[1]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, net, end of period	7,320	[1]
Direct Checks Acquisition [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	4,267
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, net, end of period	4,267
Logo Design Mojo [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	1,359	[1]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, net, end of period	1,359	[1]
MerchEngines.com [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	1,140	[1]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, net, end of period	1,140	[1]
Dots and Pixels Inc. [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	1,021
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, net, end of period	1,021
Cornerstone Customer Solutions [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	897	[1]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions			897
Goodwill, net, end of period	897	[1]
All Trade Computer Forms, Inc. [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	786
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, net, end of period	786
PsPrint, LLC [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	24,826	[1]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions	24,826	[1]
Goodwill, net, end of period	24,826	[1]
Small Business Services [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	601,314		576,534
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, gross, beginning of period	596,534		596,429
Accumulated impairment charges	(20,000)		(20,000)
Goodwill, net of accumulated impairment charges, beginning balance	576,534		576,534
Currency translation adjustment	(46)		105
Goodwill, gross, end of period	621,314		596,534
Accumulated impairment charges	(20,000)		(20,000)
Goodwill, net, end of period	601,314		576,534
Small Business Services [Member] | PsPrint, LLC [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions	24,826	[1]
Financial Services [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	27,178		897
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, gross, beginning of period	897		0
Accumulated impairment charges	0
Goodwill, net of accumulated impairment charges, beginning balance	897		0
Acquisitions	0
Currency translation adjustment	0		0
Goodwill, gross, end of period	27,178		897
Accumulated impairment charges	0		0
Goodwill, net, end of period	27,178		897
Financial Services [Member] | Banker's Dashboard [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions	26,281	[1]
Financial Services [Member] | Cornerstone Customer Solutions [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions			897	[1]
Direct Checks [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	148,506		148,506
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, gross, beginning of period	148,506		82,237
Accumulated impairment charges	0
Goodwill, net of accumulated impairment charges, beginning balance	148,506		82,237
Acquisitions	0
Currency translation adjustment	0		0
Goodwill, gross, end of period	148,506		148,506
Accumulated impairment charges	0		0
Goodwill, net, end of period	148,506		148,506
Direct Checks [Member] | Custom Direct [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisitions			$ 66,269

[1] This goodwill is deductible for income tax purposes.