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 earnings	$ 363,956	$ 574,935	$ 319,309
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization of long-lived assets	116,392	106,284	111,105
Non-cash stock compensation	31,683	29,778	31,864
Excess tax benefits from stock based compensation arrangements	(12,890)	(15,812)	(7,757)
Amortization of deferred revenue	(2,154)	(2,154)	(2,154)
Deferred income taxes	6,931	11,314	(9,095)
Provisions for doubtful accounts	1,603	7,173	3,387
(Gain)/loss on sale of assets	3,782	(390,187)	(9,289)
Other	1,470	2,233	1,469
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and dispositions:
Inventories	12,040	(17,088)	24,111
Accounts receivable	(26,080)	81,916	(50,753)
Income taxes receivable/payable	28,277	6,981	22,238
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	54	(123,801)	83,742
Other assets	(12,708)	13,993	(21,245)
Other liabilities	(8,444)	98,894	(22,084)
Net cash provided by operating activities	503,912	384,459	474,848
Investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(74,737)	(110,182)	(158,909)
Purchases of retirement benefit assets	(45,045)	(45,718)	(49,552)
Proceeds from sale and maturities of retirement benefit assets	52,695	46,147	50,830
Proceeds from sale of assets	6,099	537,625	26,551
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired	(318,978)	(21,970)	(167,638)
Other	(13,543)	(6,602)	(11,107)
Net cash provided/(used) by investing activities	(393,509)	399,300	(309,825)
Financing activities:
Notes payable	254,976	(34,973)	(10,017)
Long-term borrowings	0	14	106
Repayments of short-term debt	(3,927)	0	0
Repayments of long-term debt	(718)	(461)	(511)
Additions to deferred financing costs	0	(3,043)	0
Purchase of treasury stock	(250,000)	(250,000)	(121,164)
Dividends paid	(118,758)	(108,054)	(88,955)
Net proceeds from stock plans	12,625	36,240	39,562
Excess tax benefits from stock based compensation arrangements	12,890	15,812	7,757
Net cash used by financing activities	(92,912)	(344,465)	(173,222)
Cash flow for year	17,491	439,294	(8,199)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	936,886	500,274	557,766
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	9,733	(2,682)	(49,293)
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	964,110	936,886	500,274
Supplemental disclosures:
Interest paid	23,788	34,373	23,988
Income taxes paid (net of refunds)	$ 57,981	$ 144,733	$ 90,806