Fair Value Measurements - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2016	Jul. 31, 2015	Jul. 31, 2014
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 429,871	$ 433,199	$ 515,004
Goodwill, Impairment Loss		37,112
Other Intangible Assets, Net		26,194
Other Intangible Assets, Estimated Fair Value		19,543
Impairment of Other Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	6,651	6,651
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	102,444	111,214
WPS APAC [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Goodwill		26,246
WPS Americas [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Goodwill		10,866
Global PeopleID [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Goodwill			193,689
Goodwill, Estimated Fair Value			93,277
Goodwill, Impairment Loss			100
Identification Solutions
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Goodwill	384,529	382,786	412,289
Goodwill, Impairment Loss		0
Impairment of Other Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)			48,139
Workplace Safety
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 45,342	50,413	$ 102,715
Goodwill, Impairment Loss		$ 37,112