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Restructuring Charges (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended | 60 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Apr. 30, 2017 | Apr. 30, 2016 | Apr. 30, 2015 | Apr. 30, 2017
Restructuring Charges [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Restructuring charge (in dollars per share) | $ 0.15 | $ 0.32 | $ 0.34 |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Restructuring charges (credits) | $ 13,355 | $ 28,611 | $ 28,804 |
Restructuring and Reinvestment Program [Member] |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Restructuring charges (credits) | 13,355 | 28,611 | 28,804 | $ 137,944
Restructuring and Reinvestment Program [Member] | Severance [Member] |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Restructuring charges (credits) | 8,386 | 16,443 | 17,093 | 87,590
Restructuring and Reinvestment Program [Member] | Process Reengineering Consulting [Member] |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Restructuring charges (credits) | 148 | 7,191 | 301 | 18,814
Restructuring and Reinvestment Program [Member] | Other Activities [Member] |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Restructuring charges (credits) | 4,821 | 4,977 | 11,410 | 31,540
Research [Member] | Restructuring and Reinvestment Program [Member] |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Restructuring charges (credits) | 1,949 | 2,982 | 4,555 | 20,156
Publishing [Member] | Restructuring and Reinvestment Program [Member] |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Restructuring charges (credits) | 1,596 | 4,507 | 5,956 | 32,488
Solutions [Member] | Restructuring and Reinvestment Program [Member] |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Restructuring charges (credits) | 1,787 | 1,042 | 0 | 2,552
Shared Services [Member] | Restructuring and Reinvestment Program [Member] |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Restructuring charges (credits) | $ 8,023 | $ 20,080 | $ 18,293 | $ 82,748

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- Definition Amount of expenses associated with exit or disposal activities pursuant to an authorized plan. Excludes expenses related to a discontinued operation or an asset retirement obligation. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SAB Topic 5.P.3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011515&loc=d3e140864-122747 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SAB Topic 5.P.4(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011515&loc=d3e140904-122747 + Details
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