Restructuring Charges and Other Exit-Related Costs - Restructuring Reserve Rollforward (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2015	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring charges	$ 10,614	$ 6,401	$ 7,906
Total restructuring charges to date	29,933
Total expected restructuring charges	31,810
Q2’15 Plan
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring reserve, beginning balance	0
Restructuring charges	8,623
Payments and Other	(6,077)
Restructuring reserve, ending balance	2,546	0
Total restructuring charges to date	8,623
Total expected restructuring charges	10,500
All Other Restructuring Plans
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring reserve, beginning balance	2,158	3,305
Restructuring charges	1,991	6,401
Payments and Other	(3,787)	(7,548)
Restructuring reserve, ending balance	362	2,158	3,305
Severance costs
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring charges	5,721	4,607	2,443
Total restructuring charges to date	15,512
Total expected restructuring charges	17,000
Severance costs | Q2’15 Plan
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring reserve, beginning balance	0
Restructuring charges	5,330
Payments and Other	(4,104)
Restructuring reserve, ending balance	1,226	0
Severance costs | All Other Restructuring Plans
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring reserve, beginning balance	669	278
Restructuring charges	391	4,607
Payments and Other	(1,060)	(4,216)
Restructuring reserve, ending balance	0	669	278
Contract termination costs
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring charges	1,622	1,384	3,229
Total restructuring charges to date	6,675
Total expected restructuring charges	6,810
Contract termination costs | Q2’15 Plan
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring reserve, beginning balance	0
Restructuring charges	1,245
Payments and Other	75
Restructuring reserve, ending balance	1,320	0
Contract termination costs | All Other Restructuring Plans
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring reserve, beginning balance	1,489	3,027
Restructuring charges	377	1,384
Payments and Other	(1,504)	(2,922)
Restructuring reserve, ending balance	362	1,489	3,027
Other restructuring costs
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring charges	3,271	410	2,234
Total restructuring charges to date	7,746
Total expected restructuring charges	8,000
Other restructuring costs | Q2’15 Plan
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring reserve, beginning balance	0
Restructuring charges	2,048
Payments and Other	(2,048)
Restructuring reserve, ending balance	0	0
Other restructuring costs | All Other Restructuring Plans
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring reserve, beginning balance	0	0
Restructuring charges	1,223	410
Payments and Other	(1,223)	(410)
Restructuring reserve, ending balance	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0