CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2010
Operating activities:
Net earnings	$ 319,309	$ 315,496	$ 241,248
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Restructuring and other charges, net	2,542	7,336	976
Depreciation and amortization of long-lived assets	111,105	98,106	93,628
Non-cash stock compensation	31,864	26,433	24,616
Write-off of deferred financing costs	0	0	3,245
Redemption premium on senior notes	0	0	28,268
Excess tax benefits from stock based compensation arrangements	(7,757)	(12,777)	(2,671)
Amortization of deferred revenue	(2,154)	(2,154)	(2,154)
Deferred income taxes	(9,095)	10,512	(4,976)
Provisions for doubtful accounts	3,387	1,455	1,349
(Gain)/loss on sale of assets	(11,561)	3,195	1,412
Other	1,199	1,199	9
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and dispositions:
Inventories	24,111	(5,177)	(8,415)
Accounts receivable	(50,753)	(41,607)	(14,806)
Income taxes receivable/payable	22,238	3,812	(7,368)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	83,742	39,324	67,098
Other assets	(21,245)	(6,579)	(23,972)
Other liabilities	(22,084)	(8,587)	(19,627)
Net cash provided by operating activities	474,848	429,987	377,860
Investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(158,909)	(160,771)	(136,313)
Purchases of retirement benefit assets	(49,552)	(75,142)	(58,599)
Proceeds from sale of retirement benefit assets	50,830	63,222	47,442
Proceeds from sale of assets	26,551	1,971	1,603
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired	(167,638)	0	(8,984)
Other	(11,107)	(5,821)	(13,883)
Net cash used by investing activities	(309,825)	(176,541)	(168,734)
Financing activities:
Long-term borrowings	106	35,185	798,290
Repayments of long-term debt	(511)	(298,528)	(737,675)
Notes payable	(10,017)	174,600	(2,016)
Redemption premium on senior notes	0	0	(28,268)
Additions to deferred financing costs	0	0	(6,311)
Purchase of treasury stock	(121,164)	(149,907)	(99,999)
Dividends paid	(88,955)	(77,641)	(71,284)
Net proceeds from stock plans	39,562	60,329	23,929
Excess tax benefits from stock based compensation arrangements	7,757	12,777	2,671
Net cash used by financing activities	(173,222)	(243,185)	(120,663)
Cash flow for year	(8,199)	10,261	88,463
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	557,766	498,563	414,011
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(49,293)	48,942	(3,911)
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	500,274	557,766	498,563
Supplemental disclosures:
Interest paid	23,988	25,866	35,611
Income taxes paid (net of refunds)	$ 90,806	$ 93,175	$ 91,871