Notes payable (Parenthetical) (Detail)		12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2012 4.00% Debentures due 2031	Jan. 31, 2011 6.25% Debentures due 2026, issued 2006	Jan. 31, 2011 6.25% Debentures due 2026, issued fiscal 2011	Jan. 31, 2011 Term Loan due 2013	Apr. 30, 2010 Term Loan due 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	4.00%	6.25%	6.25%
Maturity year	2031	2026	2026	2012	2012
Issuance year		2006	2011

Interest rate stated in the contractual debt agreement.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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