| Line | Label | Object Class | Period Type | Balance | Name |
| 1 | 309020 - Disclosure - Note I. Geographic Areas | [Network] | http://www.abc.com/role/GeographicAreas | ||
| 2 | Revenues by Geographic Area [Table] | [Table] | abc:RevenuesByGeographicAreaTable | ||
| 3 | Report Date [Axis] | [Axis] | us-gaap:CreationDateAxis | ||
| 4 | Financial Statements Date [Domain] | [Domain] | us-gaap:DefaultFinancialStatementsDateMember | ||
| 5 | As Reported February 12, 2011 [Member] | [Member] | For Period | abc:AsReportedFebruary122011Member | |
| 6 | Legal Entity [Axis] | [Axis] | dei:LegalEntityAxis | ||
| 7 | Consolidated Entity [Domain] | [Domain] | dei:EntityDomain | ||
| 8 | Geographic Areas [Axis] | [Axis] | us-gaap:StatementGeographicalAxis | ||
| 9 | Geographic Areas, All [Domain] | [Domain] | us-gaap:SegmentGeographicalDomain | ||
| 10 | North America [Member] | [Member] | For Period | abc:NorthAmericaMember | |
| 11 | Europe [Member] | [Member] | For Period | abc:EuropeMember | |
| 12 | Country [Axis] | [Axis] | abc:CountryAxis | ||
| 13 | Countries, All [Domain] | [Domain] | For Period | abc:CountriesAllDomain | |
| 14 | United States [Member] | [Member] | For Period | abc:UnitedStatesMember | |
| 15 | Canada [Member] | [Member] | For Period | abc:CanadaMember | |
| 16 | United Kingdom [Member] | [Member] | For Period | abc:UnitedKingdomMember | |
| 17 | Germany [Member] | [Member] | For Period | abc:GermanyMember | |
| 18 | Revenues by Geographic Area [Line Items] | [Line Items] | abc:RevenuesByGeographicAreaLineItems | ||
| 19 | Revenues by Geographic Area [Hierarchy] | [Abstract] | abc:RevenuesByGeographicAreaHierarchy | ||
| 20 | Revenues | [Concept] Monetary | For Period | Credit | us-gaap:Revenues |