Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Goodwill and Intangibles (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended					12 Months Ended												12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2014	Jul. 31, 2013	Jul. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2011	Dec. 28, 2012	Jul. 31, 2013 Grafo [Member]	Jul. 31, 2013 Die Cut [Member]	Jul. 31, 2012 Die Cut [Member]	Jul. 31, 2013 Workplace Safety [Member]	Jul. 31, 2012 Workplace Safety [Member]	Jul. 31, 2013 Identification Solutions [Member]	Jul. 31, 2012 Identification Solutions [Member]	Jul. 31, 2013 Pervaco [Member]	Jul. 31, 2013 Runelandhs [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Brady Medical [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Identification Solutions [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Varitronics [Member]	Jul. 31, 2012 Die Cut [Member]	Jul. 31, 2011 Die Cut [Member]	Jul. 31, 2012 Workplace Safety [Member]	Jul. 31, 2011 Workplace Safety [Member]	Jul. 31, 2012 Identification Solutions [Member]	Jul. 31, 2011 Identification Solutions [Member]	Jul. 31, 2013 Patents [Member]	Jul. 31, 2012 Patents [Member]	Jul. 31, 2013 Trademarks And Other [Member]	Jul. 31, 2012 Trademarks And Other [Member]	Jul. 31, 2013 Customer Relationships [Member]	Jul. 31, 2012 Customer Relationships [Member]	Jul. 31, 2013 Non Compete Agreements And Other [Member]	Jul. 31, 2012 Non Compete Agreements And Other [Member]	Jul. 31, 2013 Trademarks [Member]	Jul. 31, 2012 Trademarks [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life	7 years																							5 years	5 years	5 years	7 years	8 years	7 years	4 years	4 years
Other intangible assets		$ 156,851	$ 84,119																					$ 1,456	$ 1,360	$ 6,891	$ 1,851	$ 116,456	$ 35,587	$ 727	$ 571	$ 31,321	$ 44,750
Goodwill, Acquired During Period		170,180	22,844			1,227	0		0		170,180		8,440	13,177				0		21,617		1,227
Goodwill, Translation and Purchase Accounting Adjustments		999	30,213				1,261	(2,305)	(4,454)	(5,483)	4,192	(22,425)
Goodwill, Written off Related to Sale of Business Unit		2,882	495				0		0		2,882							0		0		(495)
Impairment charges		(190,505)	(115,688)	0			0	(115,688)	(172,280)	0	(18,225)	0
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Indefinite-lived (Excluding Goodwill)		10,568
Goodwill		37,347													863	2,882	2,019
Amortization of Intangible Assets		17,148	10,576	15,571
Share-based Compensation		1,736	9,735	9,830
Goodwill		617,236	676,791	800,343			0		100,207		517,029							31,957	149,950	276,941	260,807	367,893	389,586
Finite-Lived Customer Relationships, Gross			8,903	1,846	102,500
Finite-Lived Trade Names, Gross					6,800
Goodwill, Period Increase (Decrease)		59,555	123,552
Goodwill classified as held for sale		(37,347)					(33,218)		0		(4,129)
Intangible Assets Finite Lived And Indefinite Lived Gross		333,681	244,493																					11,053	10,418	15,289	8,945	261,076	164,392	14,942	15,988	31,321	44,750
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization		(176,830)	160,374																					9,597	(9,058)	8,398	7,094	(144,620)	128,805	14,215	(15,417)	0	0
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Next Twelve Months		19,321
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Two		18,513
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Three		16,349
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Four		13,197
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Five		11,881
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use		$ 3