Significant accounting policies Restricted cash (Details) (USD $)	Jan. 31, 2014	Jan. 31, 2013	Jan. 31, 2012
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 13,395,000	$ 7,034,000	$ 4,209,000
Restricted cash	439,000	725,000
Drafts payable	200,000	3,300,000
United States
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Restricted cash	0	100,000
India
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Restricted cash foreign	$ 400,000	$ 600,000

Amount of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Excludes cash and cash equivalents within disposal group and discontinued operation.

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The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalent items which are restricted as to withdrawal or usage. Restrictions may include legally restricted deposits held as compensating balances against short-term borrowing arrangements, contracts entered into with others, or entity statements of intention with regard to particular deposits; however, time deposits and short-term certificates of deposit are not generally included in legally restricted deposits. Excludes compensating balance arrangements that are not agreements which legally restrict the use of cash amounts shown on the balance sheet. For a classified balance sheet represents the current portion only (the noncurrent portion has a separate concept); there is a separate and distinct element for unclassified presentations.

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