CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2014	Jul. 31, 2013	Jul. 31, 2012
Operating activities:
Net (loss) income	$ (45,968)	$ (154,535)	$ (17,911)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	44,598	48,725	43,987
Non-cash portion of restructuring charges	566	3,699	458
Non-cash portion of stock-based compensation expense	5,214	1,736	9,735
Goodwill and Intangible Asset Impairment, Including Discontinued Operations	148,551	204,448	115,688
Loss on write-down of assets held for sale	0	15,658	0
Loss on sales of businesses	1,238	3,138	204
Deferred income taxes	(27,516)	21,630	(9,679)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities (net of effects of business acquisitions/divestitures):
Accounts receivable	(3,600)	1,535	18,089
Inventories	(12,608)	2,440	(7,674)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(278)	5,036	(2,744)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(20,508)	(2,285)	(29,370)
Income taxes	3,731	(7,722)	23,922
Net cash provided by operating activities	93,420	143,503	144,705
Investing activities:
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	(43,398)	(35,687)	(24,147)
Payments of contingent consideration	0	0	(2,580)
Settlement of net investment hedges	0	0	(797)
Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired	0	(301,157)	(37,649)
Sales of businesses, net of cash retained	54,242	10,178	856
Other	(637)	900	(287)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	10,207	(325,766)	(64,604)
Financing activities:
Payment of dividends	(40,487)	(39,243)	(38,899)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	12,113	20,324	3,864
Purchase of treasury stock	(30,581)	(5,121)	(49,933)
Proceeds from borrowing on notes payable	63,000	220,000	0
Repayment of borrowing on notes payable	(60,000)	(181,000)	0
Proceeds from borrowings on line of credit	10,334	11,613	0
Repayment of borrowing on line of credit	(2,398)	0	0
Principal payments on debt	(61,264)	(61,264)	(62,687)
Debt issuance costs	0	0	(961)
Income tax benefit from the exercise of stock options and deferred compensation distributions, and other	(6,104)	1,631	792
Net cash used in financing activities	(115,387)	(33,060)	(147,824)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	2,536	481	(16,348)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(9,224)	(214,842)	(84,071)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	91,058	305,900	389,971
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	81,834	91,058	305,900
Cash paid during the period for:
Interest, net of capitalized interest	14,594	17,162	19,194
Income taxes, net of refunds	33,043	34,030	35,292
Acquisitions: [Abstract]
Fair value of assets acquired, net of cash	0	168,724	23,792
Liabilities assumed	0	(37,747)	(8,987)
Goodwill	0	170,180	22,844
Net cash paid for acquisitions	$ 0	$ 301,157	$ 37,649