CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2013	Jan. 31, 2012	Jan. 31, 2013	Jan. 31, 2012
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 662,455	$ 640,047	$ 1,290,055	$ 1,291,309
Cost of sales	320,492	301,882	621,009	617,792
Gross profit	341,963	338,165	669,046	673,517
Selling, general and administrative expenses	206,009	209,576	401,974	417,756
Research and development	23,399	20,050	45,974	39,571
Restructuring and other charges, net	4,399	5,156	8,673	28,140
Interest expense, net	6,017	5,386	5,449	11,331
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes	102,139	97,997	206,976	176,719
Provision for income taxes	21,820	23,351	37,492	42,421
Net earnings from continuing operations	80,319	74,646	169,484	134,298
Earnings/(loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	(3,549)	10,083	246,758	19,886
Net earnings	$ 76,770	$ 84,729	$ 416,242	$ 154,184
Earnings per share from continuing operations:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.71	$ 0.64	$ 1.49	$ 1.16
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.70	$ 0.63	$ 1.48	$ 1.14
Earnings/(loss) per share from discontinued operations:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.03)	$ 0.09	$ 2.18	$ 0.17
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.03)	$ 0.09	$ 2.15	$ 0.17
Earnings per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.68	$ 0.73	$ 3.67	$ 1.33
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.67	$ 0.72	$ 3.63	$ 1.31
Dividends declared per share	$ 0.250	$ 0.210	$ 0.500	$ 0.385
Average shares outstanding:
Basic	112,420	116,196	113,398	115,997
Diluted	113,809	117,914	114,784	117,555