File No. 33-08214
811-04813
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 [X]
Pre-Effective Amendment No. [__]
Post-Effective Amendment No. 159 [X]
and/or
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 [X]
Amendment No. 159 [X]
(Check appropriate box or boxes.)
Dreyfus Investment Funds
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
c/o The Dreyfus Corporation
200 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10166
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's Telephone Number, including Area Code: (212) 922-6000
Janette Farragher, Esq.
200 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10166
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box)
X immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
___ on (date) pursuant to paragraph (b)
___ days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
___ on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
___ days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)
___ on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485
If appropriate, check the following box:
___ this post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.
The following post-effective amendment to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A relates to the series listed below and does not affect the Registration Statement of Dreyfus/Standish Global Fixed Income Fund.
Dreyfus/The Boston Company Emerging Markets Core Equity Fund
Dreyfus/The Boston Company Small Cap Growth Fund
Dreyfus/The Boston Company Small Cap Value Fund
Dreyfus/The Boston Company Small/Mid Cap Growth Fund
Dreyfus/Standish Intermediate Tax Exempt Bond Fund
Dreyfus/Newton International Equity Fund
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this Amendment to the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has duly caused this Amendment to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of New York, and State of New York on the 20th day of February, 2013
.
Dreyfus Investment Funds
|
BY: |
/s/ Bradley J. Skapyak* |
|
Bradley J. Skapyak, PRESIDENT |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.
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Signatures |
Title |
Date | |||
|
/s/ Bradley J. Skapyak* |
President (Principal Executive Officer) |
2/20/13 | |||
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Bradley J. Skapyak |
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/s/ James Windels* |
Treasurer (Principal Financial |
2/20/13 | |||
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James Windels |
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/s/ Joseph S. DiMartino* |
Chairman of the Board |
2/20/13 | |||
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Joseph S. DiMartino |
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/s/ James M. Fitzgibbons* |
Board Member |
2/20/13 | |||
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James M. Fitzgibbons |
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/s/ Kenneth A. Himmel* |
Board Member |
2/20/13 | |||
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Kenneth A. Himmel |
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/s/ Stephen J. Lockwood* |
Board Member |
2/20/13 | |||
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Stephen J. Lockwood |
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/s/ Roslyn M. Watson* |
Board Member |
2/20/13 | |||
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Roslyn M. Watson |
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/s/ Benaree Pratt Wiley* |
Board Member |
2/20/13 | |||
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Benaree Pratt Wiley |
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/s/ Francine J. Bovich* |
Board Member |
2/20/13 | |||
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Francine J. Bovich |
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*BY: |
/s/ James Bitetto |
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|
James Bitetto |
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INDEX OF EXHIBITS
Exhibits
EX-101.INS – Instance Document.
EX-101.SCH – Taxonomy.
EX-101.CAL – Calculation Linkbase.
EX-101.DEF – Definition Linkbase.
EX-101.LAB – Labels Linkbase.
EX-101.PRE – Presentation Linkbase.
| Label | Element | Value | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||||
| Risk/Return [Heading] | rr_RiskReturnHeading | Dreyfus/Standish Intermediate Tax Exempt Bond Fund | ||||
| Objective [Heading] | rr_ObjectiveHeading | Investment Objective | ||||
| Objective, Primary [Text Block] | rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock | The fund seeks to provide a high level of interest income exempt from federal income tax, while seeking preservation of shareholders' capital. |
||||
| Expense [Heading] | rr_ExpenseHeading | Fees and Expenses | ||||
| Expense Narrative [Text Block] | rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock | This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in certain funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the Shareholder Guide section on page 8 of the Prospectus and in the How to Buy Shares section and the Additional Information About How to Buy Shares section on page II-1 and page III-1, respectively, of the fund's Statement of Additional Information. |
||||
| Shareholder Fees Caption [Text] | rr_ShareholderFeesCaption | Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) | ||||
| Operating Expenses Caption [Text] | rr_OperatingExpensesCaption | Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) | ||||
| Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination | rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination | 2014-02-01 | ||||
| Portfolio Turnover [Heading] | rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading | Portfolio Turnover | ||||
| Portfolio Turnover [Text Block] | rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock | The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the fund's portfolio turnover rate was 21.97% of the average value of its portfolio. |
||||
| Portfolio Turnover, Rate | rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate | 21.97% | ||||
| Expense Breakpoint Discounts [Text] | rr_ExpenseBreakpointDiscounts | You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in certain funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds. | ||||
| Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount] | rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount | $ 50,000 | ||||
| Expense Example [Heading] | rr_ExpenseExampleHeading | Example | ||||
| Expense Example Narrative [Text Block] | rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock | The Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the fund's operating expenses remain the same. The one-year example and the first year of the three-, five- and ten-years examples are based on net operating expenses, which reflect the expense waiver/reimbursement by The Dreyfus Corporation. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: |
||||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, By Year, Caption [Text] | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionByYearCaption | You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares: | ||||
| Strategy [Heading] | rr_StrategyHeading | Principal Investment Strategy | ||||
| Strategy Narrative [Text Block] | rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock | To pursue its goal, the fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in municipal bonds that provide income exempt from federal personal income tax. The fund invests exclusively in fixed-income securities rated, at the time of purchase, investment grade (i.e., Baa/BBB or higher) or the unrated equivalent as determined by The Dreyfus Corporation, with an emphasis on high grade securities. The dollar-weighted average effective maturity of the fund’s portfolio generally will be between 3 and 10 years, but the fund may invest in individual securities of any maturity. The portfolio managers focus on identifying undervalued sectors and securities. To select municipal bonds for the fund, the portfolio managers use fundamental credit analysis to estimate the relative value and attractiveness of various sectors and securities and actively trade among various sectors based on their apparent relative values. Although the fund seeks to provide income exempt from federal income tax, income from some of the fund's holdings may be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax. |
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| Risk [Heading] | rr_RiskHeading | Principal Risks | ||||
| Risk Narrative [Text Block] | rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock | An investment in the fund is not a bank deposit. It is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency. It is not a complete investment program. The fund's share price fluctuates, sometimes dramatically, which means you could lose money. Municipal securities risk. The amount of public information available about municipal securities is generally less than that for corporate equities or bonds. Special factors, such as legislative changes, and state and local economic and business developments, may adversely affect the yield and/or value of the fund's investments in municipal securities. Other factors include the general conditions of the municipal securities market, the size of the particular offering, the maturity of the obligation and the rating of the issue. Changes in economic, business or political conditions relating to a particular municipal project, municipality, or state in which the fund invests may have an impact on the fund's share price. · Interest rate risk. Prices of bonds tend to move inversely with changes in interest rates. Typically, a rise in rates will adversely affect bond prices and, accordingly, the fund's share price. The longer the effective maturity and duration of the fund's portfolio, the more the fund's share price is likely to react to interest rates. · Credit risk. Failure of an issuer to make timely interest or principal payments, or a decline or perception of a decline in the credit quality of a bond, can cause a bond's price to fall, potentially lowering the fund's share price. The lower a bond's credit rating, the greater the chance – in the rating agency's opinion – that the bond issuer will default or fail to meet its payment obligations. · Liquidity risk. When there is little or no active trading market for a security, the fund may not be able to sell the security in a timely manner at its perceived value, which could cause the fund's share price to fall. · Call risk. Some bonds give the issuer the option to call, or redeem, the bonds before their maturity date. If an issuer "calls" its bond during a time of declining interest rates, the fund might have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield, and therefore might not benefit from any increase in value as a result of declining interest rates. During periods of market illiquidity or rising interest rates, prices of "callable" issues are subject to increased price fluctuation. |
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| Risk Lose Money [Text] | rr_RiskLoseMoney | The fund's share price fluctuates, sometimes dramatically, which means you could lose money. | ||||
| Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text] | rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution | An investment in the fund is not a bank deposit. It is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency. | ||||
| Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] | rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading | Performance | ||||
| Performance Narrative [Text Block] | rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock | The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the fund. The bar chart shows changes in the performance of the fund's Class I shares from year to year. The table compares the average annual total returns of the fund's shares to those of a broad measure of market performance. The fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the fund will perform in the future. Sales charges, if any, are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would have been less than those shown. More recent performance information may be available at www.dreyfus.com. |
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| Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] | rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns | The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the fund. | ||||
| Performance Availability Website Address [Text] | rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress | www.dreyfus.com | ||||
| Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] | rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture | The fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the fund will perform in the future. | ||||
| Bar Chart [Heading] | rr_BarChartHeading | Year-by-Year Total Returns as of 12/31 each year (%) Class I | ||||
| Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text] | rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads | Sales charges, if any, are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would have been less than those shown. | ||||
| Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] | rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock |
|
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| Highest Quarterly Return, Label | rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel | Best Quarter | ||||
| Highest Quarterly Return, Date | rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate | Sep. 30, 2009 | ||||
| Highest Quarterly Return | rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn | 6.08% | ||||
| Lowest Quarterly Return, Label | rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel | Worst Quarter | ||||
| Lowest Quarterly Return, Date | rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate | Dec. 31, 2010 | ||||
| Lowest Quarterly Return | rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn | (2.55%) | ||||
| Index No Deduction for Fees, Expenses, Taxes [Text] | rr_IndexNoDeductionForFeesExpensesTaxes | reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes | ||||
| Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate | rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate | After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal tax rates, and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. | ||||
| Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred | rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred | Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. | ||||
| Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text] | rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown | After-tax performance is shown only for Class I shares. After-tax performance of the fund's other share classes will vary. | ||||
| Performance Table Narrative | rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock | After-tax performance is shown only for Class I shares. After-tax performance of the fund's other share classes will vary. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal tax rates, and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. For the fund's Class A and Class C shares, periods prior to 3/31/09 reflect the performance of the fund's Class I shares, adjusted to reflect each share class' applicable sales charges. Such performance figures have not been adjusted, however, to reflect applicable class fees and expenses; if such fees and expenses had been reflected, the performance shown for Class A and Class C shares for such periods may have been lower. |
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| Caption | rr_AverageAnnualReturnCaption | Average Annual Total Returns (as of 12/31/12) | ||||
|
Barclays Capital 3-, 5-, 7-, 10-Year Municipal Bond® Index reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes
|
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| Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||||
| Average Annual Returns, 1 Year | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 3.68% | ||||
| Average Annual Returns, 5 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 | 5.45% | ||||
| Average Annual Returns, 10 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 | 4.48% | ||||
|
Class A
|
||||||
| Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||||
| Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice | 4.50% | ||||
| Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of lower of purchase or sale price) | rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther | none | [1] | |||
| Management fees | rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets | 0.40% | ||||
| Distribution (Rule 12b-1) fees | rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets | none | ||||
| Other expenses (including shareholder services fees) | rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets | 0.50% | ||||
| Total annual fund operating expenses | rr_ExpensesOverAssets | 0.90% | ||||
| Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement | rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets | (0.20%) | [2] | |||
| Total annual fund operating expenses (after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement) | rr_NetExpensesOverAssets | 0.70% | ||||
| Expenses Deferred Charges [Text Block] | rr_ExpensesDeferredChargesTextBlock | Class A shares bought without an initial sales charge as part of an investment of $1 million or more may be charged a deferred sales charge of 1.00% if redeemed within one year. | ||||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year | rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 | 518 | ||||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 | 705 | ||||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 | 907 | ||||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 | 1,490 | ||||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 | 518 | ||||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 | 705 | ||||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 | 907 | ||||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 | 1,490 | ||||
| Average Annual Returns, 1 Year | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | (1.35%) | ||||
| Average Annual Returns, 5 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 | 3.84% | ||||
| Average Annual Returns, 10 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 | 3.58% | ||||
| Average Annual Returns, Inception Date | rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate | Mar. 31, 2009 | ||||
|
Class C
|
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| Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||||
| Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice | none | ||||
| Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of lower of purchase or sale price) | rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther | 1.00% | ||||
| Management fees | rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets | 0.40% | ||||
| Distribution (Rule 12b-1) fees | rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets | 0.75% | ||||
| Other expenses (including shareholder services fees) | rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets | 0.52% | ||||
| Total annual fund operating expenses | rr_ExpensesOverAssets | 1.67% | ||||
| Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement | rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets | (0.22%) | [2] | |||
| Total annual fund operating expenses (after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement) | rr_NetExpensesOverAssets | 1.45% | ||||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year | rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 | 248 | ||||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 | 505 | ||||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 | 887 | ||||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 | 1,958 | ||||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 | 148 | ||||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 | 505 | ||||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 | 887 | ||||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 | 1,958 | ||||
| Average Annual Returns, 1 Year | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 1.48% | ||||
| Average Annual Returns, 5 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 | 4.21% | ||||
| Average Annual Returns, 10 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 | 3.77% | ||||
| Average Annual Returns, Inception Date | rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate | Mar. 31, 2009 | ||||
|
Class I
|
||||||
| Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||||
| Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice | none | ||||
| Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of lower of purchase or sale price) | rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther | none | ||||
| Management fees | rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets | 0.40% | ||||
| Distribution (Rule 12b-1) fees | rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets | none | ||||
| Other expenses (including shareholder services fees) | rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets | 0.21% | ||||
| Total annual fund operating expenses | rr_ExpensesOverAssets | 0.61% | ||||
| Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement | rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets | (0.16%) | [2] | |||
| Total annual fund operating expenses (after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement) | rr_NetExpensesOverAssets | 0.45% | ||||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year | rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 | 46 | ||||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 | 179 | ||||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 | 324 | ||||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 | 747 | ||||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 | 46 | ||||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 | 179 | ||||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 | 324 | ||||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 | $ 747 | ||||
| Annual Return 2003 | rr_AnnualReturn2003 | 4.33% | ||||
| Annual Return 2004 | rr_AnnualReturn2004 | 2.94% | ||||
| Annual Return 2005 | rr_AnnualReturn2005 | 1.82% | ||||
| Annual Return 2006 | rr_AnnualReturn2006 | 3.88% | ||||
| Annual Return 2007 | rr_AnnualReturn2007 | 3.69% | ||||
| Annual Return 2008 | rr_AnnualReturn2008 | (0.33%) | ||||
| Annual Return 2009 | rr_AnnualReturn2009 | 10.22% | ||||
| Annual Return 2010 | rr_AnnualReturn2010 | 3.58% | ||||
| Annual Return 2011 | rr_AnnualReturn2011 | 8.63% | ||||
| Annual Return 2012 | rr_AnnualReturn2012 | 3.65% | ||||
| Average Annual Returns, 1 Year | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 3.65% | ||||
| Average Annual Returns, 5 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 | 5.08% | ||||
| Average Annual Returns, 10 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 | 4.20% | ||||
| Average Annual Returns, Inception Date | rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate | Nov. 02, 1992 | ||||
|
Class I | After Taxes on Distributions
|
||||||
| Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||||
| Average Annual Returns, 1 Year | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 3.54% | ||||
| Average Annual Returns, 5 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 | 5.01% | ||||
| Average Annual Returns, 10 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 | 4.10% | ||||
|
Class I | After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares
|
||||||
| Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||||
| Average Annual Returns, 1 Year | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 3.36% | ||||
| Average Annual Returns, 5 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 | 4.81% | ||||
| Average Annual Returns, 10 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 | 4.05% | ||||
|
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| Label | Element | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |
| Prospectus Date | rr_ProspectusDate | Feb. 01, 2013 |
| Label | Element | Value | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||
| Risk/Return [Heading] | rr_RiskReturnHeading | Dreyfus/Newton International Equity Fund | ||
| Objective [Heading] | rr_ObjectiveHeading | Investment Objective | ||
| Objective, Primary [Text Block] | rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock | The fund seeks long-term growth of capital. |
||
| Expense [Heading] | rr_ExpenseHeading | Fees and Expenses | ||
| Expense Narrative [Text Block] | rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock | This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in certain funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the Shareholder Guide section on page 10 of the Prospectus and in the How to Buy Shares section and the Additional Information About How to Buy Shares section on page II-1 and page III-1, respectively, of the fund's Statement of Additional Information. |
||
| Shareholder Fees Caption [Text] | rr_ShareholderFeesCaption | Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) | ||
| Operating Expenses Caption [Text] | rr_OperatingExpensesCaption | Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) | ||
| Portfolio Turnover [Heading] | rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading | Portfolio Turnover | ||
| Portfolio Turnover [Text Block] | rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock | The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the fund's portfolio turnover rate was 57.88% of the average value of its portfolio. |
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| Portfolio Turnover, Rate | rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate | 57.88% | ||
| Expense Breakpoint Discounts [Text] | rr_ExpenseBreakpointDiscounts | You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in certain funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds. | ||
| Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount] | rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount | $ 50,000 | ||
| Expense Example [Heading] | rr_ExpenseExampleHeading | Example | ||
| Expense Example Narrative [Text Block] | rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock | The Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: |
||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, By Year, Caption [Text] | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionByYearCaption | You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares: | ||
| Strategy [Heading] | rr_StrategyHeading | Principal Investment Strategy | ||
| Strategy Narrative [Text Block] | rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock | To pursue its goal, the fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in common stocks or securities convertible into common stocks of foreign companies and depositary receipts evidencing ownership in such securities. At least 75% of the fund's net assets will be invested in countries represented in the Morgan Stanley Capital International Europe, Australasia and Far East (MSCI EAFE®) Index. The fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in stock of companies located in countries (other than the United States) not represented in the MSCI EAFE® Index, including up to 20% in emerging market countries. The core of the investment philosophy of Newton Capital Management Limited (Newton), an affiliate of The Dreyfus Corporation and the fund's sub-investment adviser, is the belief that no company, market or economy can be considered in isolation; each must be understood within a global context. Newton believes that a global comparison of companies is the most effective method of stock analysis, and Newton's global analysts research investment opportunities by global sector rather than by region. The process begins by identifying a core list of investment themes that Newton believes will positively or negatively affect certain sectors or industries and cause stocks within these sectors or industries to outperform or underperform others. Newton then identifies specific companies using investment themes to help focus on areas where thematic and strategic research indicates superior returns are likely to be achieved. Sell decisions for individual stocks will typically be a result of one or more of the following: · A change in investment theme or strategy · Profit-taking · A significant change in the prospects of a company · Price movement and market activity have created an extreme valuation · The valuation of a company has become expensive against its peers The fund may, but is not required to, use derivatives, such as futures, options and forward contracts, as a substitute for investing directly in and underlying asset or currency, to increase returns, to manage currency risk, or as part of hedging strategy. |
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| Risk [Heading] | rr_RiskHeading | Principal Risks | ||
| Risk Narrative [Text Block] | rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock | An investment in the fund is not a bank deposit. It is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency. It is not a complete investment program. The fund's share price fluctuates, sometimes dramatically, which means you could lose money. · Risks of stock investing. Stocks generally fluctuate more in value than bonds and may decline significantly over short time periods. There is the chance that stock prices overall will decline because stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and falling prices. The market value of a stock may decline due to general weakness in the stock market or because of factors that affect the company or its particular industry. · Foreign investment risk. The fund's performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting investments in foreign companies. Special risks associated with investments in foreign issuers include exposure to currency fluctuations, less liquidity, less developed or less efficient trading markets, lack of comprehensive company information, political and economic instability and differing auditing and legal standards. Investments denominated in foreign currencies are subject to the risk that such currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar and affect the value of these investments held by the fund. Emerging markets tend to be more volatile than the markets of more mature economies, and generally have less diverse and less mature economic structures and less stable political systems than those of developed countries. To the extent the fund's investments are concentrated in one or a limited number of foreign countries, the fund's performance could be more volatile than that of more geographically diversified funds. · Foreign currency risk. Investments in foreign currencies are subject to the risk that those currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar or, in the case of hedged positions, that the U.S. dollar will decline relative to the currency being hedged. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time. Foreign currencies are also subject to risks caused by inflation, interest rates, budget deficits and low savings rates, political factors and government intervention and controls. · Derivatives risk. A small investment in derivatives could have a potentially large impact on the fund's performance. The use of derivatives involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the underlying assets. Derivatives can be highly volatile, illiquid and difficult to value. · Liquidity risk. When there is little or no active trading market for specific types of securities, it can become more difficult to sell the securities at or near their perceived value. In such a market, the value of such securities and the fund's share price may fall dramatically. Investment in foreign securities, particularly those of issuers located in emerging markets, tend to have greater exposure to liquidity risk than domestic securities. |
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| Risk Lose Money [Text] | rr_RiskLoseMoney | The fund's share price fluctuates, sometimes dramatically, which means you could lose money. | ||
| Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text] | rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution | An investment in the fund is not a bank deposit. It is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency. | ||
| Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] | rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading | Performance | ||
| Performance Narrative [Text Block] | rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock | The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the fund. The bar chart shows changes in the performance of the fund's Class I shares from year to year. The table compares the average annual total returns of the fund's shares to those of a broad measure of market performance. The fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the fund will perform in the future. Sales charges, if any, are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would have been less than those shown. More recent performance information may be available at www.dreyfus.com. |
||
| Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] | rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns | The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the fund. | ||
| Performance Availability Website Address [Text] | rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress | www.dreyfus.com | ||
| Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] | rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture | The fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the fund will perform in the future. | ||
| Bar Chart [Heading] | rr_BarChartHeading | Year-by-Year Total Returns as of 12/31 each year (%) Class I | ||
| Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text] | rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads | Sales charges, if any, are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would have been less than those shown. | ||
| Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] | rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock |
|
||
| Highest Quarterly Return, Label | rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel | Best Quarter | ||
| Highest Quarterly Return, Date | rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate | Jun. 30, 2009 | ||
| Highest Quarterly Return | rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn | 18.01% | ||
| Lowest Quarterly Return, Label | rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel | Worst Quarter | ||
| Lowest Quarterly Return, Date | rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate | Sep. 30, 2008 | ||
| Lowest Quarterly Return | rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn | (21.85%) | ||
| Index No Deduction for Fees, Expenses, Taxes [Text] | rr_IndexNoDeductionForFeesExpensesTaxes | reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes | ||
| Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate | rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate | After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal tax rates, and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. | ||
| Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred | rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred | Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. | ||
| Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text] | rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown | After-tax performance is shown only for Class I shares. After-tax performance of the fund's other share classes will vary. | ||
| Performance Table Narrative | rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock | After-tax performance is shown only for Class I shares. After-tax performance of the fund's other share classes will vary. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal tax rates, and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. For the fund's Class A and Class C shares, periods prior to 3/31/08 reflect the performance of the fund's Class I shares, adjusted to reflect each share class' applicable sales charges. Such performance figures have not been adjusted, however, to reflect applicable class fees and expenses; if such fees and expenses had been reflected, the performance shown for Class A and Class C shares for such periods may have been lower. For comparative purposes, the value of the MSCI EAFE Index on 12/31/05 is used as the beginning value on 12/21/05. |
||
| Caption | rr_AverageAnnualReturnCaption | Average Annual Total Returns (as of 12/31/12) | ||
|
MSCI EAFE® Index reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes
|
||||
| Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||
| Average Annual Returns, 1 Year | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 17.32% | ||
| Average Annual Returns, 5 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 | (3.69%) | ||
| Average Annual Returns, Since Inception | rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception | 2.19% | ||
|
Class A
|
||||
| Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||
| Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice | 5.75% | ||
| Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of lower of purchase or sale price) | rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther | none | [1] | |
| Management fees | rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets | 0.80% | ||
| Distribution (Rule 12b-1) fees | rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets | none | ||
| Other expenses (including shareholder services fees) | rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets | 0.52% | ||
| Total annual fund operating expenses | rr_ExpensesOverAssets | 1.32% | ||
| Expenses Deferred Charges [Text Block] | rr_ExpensesDeferredChargesTextBlock | Class A shares bought without an initial sales charge as part of an investment of $1 million or more may be charged a deferred sales charge of 1.00% if redeemed within one year. | ||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year | rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 | 702 | ||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 | 969 | ||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 | 1,257 | ||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 | 2,074 | ||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 | 702 | ||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 | 969 | ||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 | 1,257 | ||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 | 2,074 | ||
| Average Annual Returns, 1 Year | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 15.44% | ||
| Average Annual Returns, 5 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 | (5.59%) | ||
| Average Annual Returns, Since Inception | rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception | 0.85% | ||
| Average Annual Returns, Inception Date | rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate | Mar. 31, 2008 | ||
|
Class C
|
||||
| Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||
| Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice | none | ||
| Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of lower of purchase or sale price) | rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther | 1.00% | ||
| Management fees | rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets | 0.80% | ||
| Distribution (Rule 12b-1) fees | rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets | 0.75% | ||
| Other expenses (including shareholder services fees) | rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets | 0.61% | ||
| Total annual fund operating expenses | rr_ExpensesOverAssets | 2.16% | ||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year | rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 | 319 | ||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 | 676 | ||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 | 1,159 | ||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 | 2,493 | ||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 | 219 | ||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 | 676 | ||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 | 1,159 | ||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 | 2,493 | ||
| Average Annual Returns, 1 Year | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 20.43% | ||
| Average Annual Returns, 5 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 | (5.05%) | ||
| Average Annual Returns, Since Inception | rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception | 1.27% | ||
| Average Annual Returns, Inception Date | rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate | Mar. 31, 2008 | ||
|
Dreyfus/Newton International Equity Fund - Class I
|
||||
| Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||
| Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice | none | ||
| Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of lower of purchase or sale price) | rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther | none | ||
| Management fees | rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets | 0.80% | ||
| Distribution (Rule 12b-1) fees | rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets | none | ||
| Other expenses (including shareholder services fees) | rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets | 0.24% | ||
| Total annual fund operating expenses | rr_ExpensesOverAssets | 1.04% | ||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year | rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 | 106 | ||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 | 331 | ||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 | 574 | ||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 | 1,271 | ||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 | 106 | ||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 | 331 | ||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 | 574 | ||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 | $ 1,271 | ||
| Annual Return 2006 | rr_AnnualReturn2006 | 20.62% | ||
| Annual Return 2007 | rr_AnnualReturn2007 | 17.70% | ||
| Annual Return 2008 | rr_AnnualReturn2008 | (42.46%) | ||
| Annual Return 2009 | rr_AnnualReturn2009 | 21.92% | ||
| Annual Return 2010 | rr_AnnualReturn2010 | 9.33% | ||
| Annual Return 2011 | rr_AnnualReturn2011 | (14.57%) | ||
| Annual Return 2012 | rr_AnnualReturn2012 | 22.90% | ||
| Average Annual Returns, 1 Year | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 22.90% | ||
| Average Annual Returns, 5 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 | (4.24%) | ||
| Average Annual Returns, Since Inception | rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception | 1.88% | ||
| Average Annual Returns, Inception Date | rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate | Dec. 21, 2005 | ||
|
Dreyfus/Newton International Equity Fund - Class I | After Taxes on Distributions
|
||||
| Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||
| Average Annual Returns, 1 Year | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 22.87% | ||
| Average Annual Returns, 5 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 | (4.50%) | ||
| Average Annual Returns, Since Inception | rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception | 1.36% | ||
|
Dreyfus/Newton International Equity Fund - Class I | After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares
|
||||
| Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||
| Average Annual Returns, 1 Year | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 15.48% | ||
| Average Annual Returns, 5 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 | (3.48%) | ||
| Average Annual Returns, Since Inception | rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception | 1.63% | ||
|
||||
| Label | Element | Value | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||||
| Risk/Return [Heading] | rr_RiskReturnHeading | Dreyfus/The Boston Company Emerging Markets Core Equity Fund | ||||
| Objective [Heading] | rr_ObjectiveHeading | Investment Objective | ||||
| Objective, Primary [Text Block] | rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock | The fund seeks long-term growth of capital. |
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| Expense [Heading] | rr_ExpenseHeading | Fees and Expenses | ||||
| Expense Narrative [Text Block] | rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock | This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in certain funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the Shareholder Guide section on page 9 of the Prospectus and in the How to Buy Shares section and the Additional Information About How to Buy Shares section on page II-1 and page III-1, respectively, of the fund's Statement of Additional Information. |
||||
| Shareholder Fees Caption [Text] | rr_ShareholderFeesCaption | Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) | ||||
| Operating Expenses Caption [Text] | rr_OperatingExpensesCaption | Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) | ||||
| Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination | rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination | 2014-02-01 | ||||
| Portfolio Turnover [Heading] | rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading | Portfolio Turnover | ||||
| Portfolio Turnover [Text Block] | rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock | The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the fund's portfolio turnover rate was 70.79% of the average value of its portfolio. |
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| Portfolio Turnover, Rate | rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate | 70.79% | ||||
| Expense Breakpoint Discounts [Text] | rr_ExpenseBreakpointDiscounts | You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in certain funds in the Dreyfus Family of Funds. | ||||
| Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount] | rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount | $ 50,000 | ||||
| Expense Example [Heading] | rr_ExpenseExampleHeading | Example | ||||
| Expense Example Narrative [Text Block] | rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock | The Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the fund's operating expenses remain the same. The one-year example and the first year of the three-, five- and ten-years examples are based on net operating expenses, which reflect the expense waiver/reimbursement by The Dreyfus Corporation. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: |
||||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, By Year, Caption [Text] | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionByYearCaption | You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares: | ||||
| Strategy [Heading] | rr_StrategyHeading | Principal Investment Strategy | ||||
| Strategy Narrative [Text Block] | rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock | To pursue its goal, the fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in equity securities of companies that are located in foreign countries represented in the Morgan Stanley Capital International Emerging Markets (MSCI® EM) Index. The fund intends to invest in a broad range of countries and will invest generally in a minimum of five different countries. However, the fund is not required to invest in every country represented in, or to match the country weightings of, the MSCI® EM Index. The fund employs a bottom-up investment approach which emphasizes individual stock selection through the use of proprietary computer models and fundamental analysis for the fund. The fund's stock selection process is designed to produce a diversified portfolio that, relative to the MSCI® EM Index, frequently has a below-average price/earnings ratio and an above-average earnings growth trend. Country, sector and industry allocations are generally in line with the MSCI® EM Index, but deviations from the MSCI® EM Index may occur. |
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| Risk [Heading] | rr_RiskHeading | Principal Risks | ||||
| Risk Narrative [Text Block] | rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock | An investment in the fund is not a bank deposit. It is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency. It is not a complete investment program. The fund's share price fluctuates, sometimes dramatically, which means you could lose money. · Risks of stock investing. Stocks generally fluctuate more in value than bonds and may decline significantly over short time periods. There is the chance that stock prices overall will decline because stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and falling prices. The market value of a stock may decline due to general weakness in the stock market or because of factors that affect the company or its particular industry. · Foreign investment risk. The fund's performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting investments in foreign companies. Special risks associated with investments in foreign issuers include exposure to currency fluctuations, less liquidity, less developed or less efficient trading markets, lack of comprehensive company information, political and economic instability and differing auditing and legal standards. Investments denominated in foreign currencies are subject to the risk that such currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar and affect the value of these investments held by the fund. To the extent the fund's investments are concentrated in a limited number of foreign countries, the fund's performance could be more volatile than that of more geographically diversified funds. · Emerging market risk. The securities of issuers located in emerging markets tend to be more volatile and less liquid than securities of issuers located in more mature economies, and emerging markets generally have less diverse and less mature economic structures and less stable political systems than those of developed countries. The securities of issuers located or doing substantial business in emerging markets are often subject to rapid and large changes in price. · Foreign currency risk. Investments in foreign currencies are subject to the risk that those currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar or, in the case of hedged positions, that the U.S. dollar will decline relative to the currency being hedged. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time. Foreign currencies are also subject to risks caused by inflation, interest rates, budget deficits and low savings rates, political factors and government intervention and controls. · Liquidity risk. When there is little or no active trading market for specific types of securities, it can become more difficult to sell the securities at or near their perceived value. In such a market, the value of such securities and the fund's share price may fall dramatically. Investment in foreign securities, particularly those of issuers located in emerging markets, tend to have greater exposure to liquidity risk than domestic securities. |
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| Risk Lose Money [Text] | rr_RiskLoseMoney | The fund's share price fluctuates, sometimes dramatically, which means you could lose money. | ||||
| Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text] | rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution | An investment in the fund is not a bank deposit. It is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency. | ||||
| Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] | rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading | Performance | ||||
| Performance Narrative [Text Block] | rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock | The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the fund. The bar chart shows changes in the performance of the fund's Class I shares from year to year. The table compares the average annual total returns of the fund's shares to those of a broad measure of market performance. The fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the fund will perform in the future. Sales charges, if any, are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would have been less than those shown. More recent performance information may be available at www.dreyfus.com. |
||||
| Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] | rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns | The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the fund. | ||||
| Performance Availability Website Address [Text] | rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress | www.dreyfus.com | ||||
| Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] | rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture | The fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the fund will perform in the future. | ||||
| Bar Chart [Heading] | rr_BarChartHeading | Year-by-Year Total Returns as of 12/31 each year (%) Class I | ||||
| Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text] | rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads | Sales charges, if any, are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would have been less than those shown. | ||||
| Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] | rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock |
|
||||
| Highest Quarterly Return, Label | rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel | Best Quarter | ||||
| Highest Quarterly Return, Date | rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate | Jun. 30, 2009 | ||||
| Highest Quarterly Return | rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn | 33.06% | ||||
| Lowest Quarterly Return, Label | rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel | Worst Quarter | ||||
| Lowest Quarterly Return, Date | rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate | Dec. 31, 2008 | ||||
| Lowest Quarterly Return | rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn | (28.88%) | ||||
| Index No Deduction for Fees, Expenses, Taxes [Text] | rr_IndexNoDeductionForFeesExpensesTaxes | reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes | ||||
| Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate | rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate | After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal tax rates, and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. | ||||
| Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred | rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred | Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. | ||||
| Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text] | rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown | After-tax performance is shown only for Class I shares. After-tax performance of the fund's other share classes will vary. | ||||
| Performance Table Narrative | rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock | After-tax performance is shown only for Class I shares. After-tax performance of the fund's other share classes will vary. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal tax rates, and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The performance figures for the fund's Class A and Class C shares for periods prior to 3/31/09 reflect the performance of the fund's Class I shares, adjusted to reflect each share class' applicable sales charges. Such performance figures have not been adjusted, however, to reflect applicable class fees and expenses; if such fees and expenses had been reflected, the performance shown for Class A and Class C shares for such periods may have been lower. For comparative purposes, the value of the MSCI® EM Index on 6/30/06 is used as the beginning value on 7/10/06. |
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| Caption | rr_AverageAnnualReturnCaption | Average Annual Total Returns (as of 12/31/12) | ||||
|
MSCI® EM Index reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes
|
||||||
| Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||||
| Average Annual Returns, 1 Year | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 18.22% | ||||
| Average Annual Returns, 5 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 | (0.92%) | ||||
| Average Annual Returns, Since Inception | rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception | 7.93% | ||||
| Average Annual Returns, Inception Date | rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate | Jul. 10, 2006 | ||||
|
Class A
|
||||||
| Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||||
| Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice | 5.75% | ||||
| Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of lower of purchase or sale price) | rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther | none | [1] | |||
| Redemption Fee (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) | rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption | (2.00%) | ||||
| Management fees | rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets | 1.10% | ||||
| Distribution (Rule 12b-1) fees | rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets | none | ||||
| Other expenses (including shareholder services fees) | rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets | 4.45% | ||||
| Total annual fund operating expenses | rr_ExpensesOverAssets | 5.55% | ||||
| Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement | rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets | (3.95%) | [2] | |||
| Total annual fund operating expenses (after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement) | rr_NetExpensesOverAssets | 1.60% | ||||
| Expenses Deferred Charges [Text Block] | rr_ExpensesDeferredChargesTextBlock | Class A shares bought without an initial sales charge as part of an investment of $1 million or more may be charged a deferred sales charge of 1.00% if redeemed within one year. | ||||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year | rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 | 728 | ||||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 | 1,804 | ||||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 | 2,868 | ||||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 | 5,477 | ||||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 | 728 | ||||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 | 1,804 | ||||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 | 2,868 | ||||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 | 5,477 | ||||
| Average Annual Returns, 1 Year | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 9.71% | ||||
| Average Annual Returns, 5 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 | (2.71%) | ||||
| Average Annual Returns, Since Inception | rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception | 6.40% | ||||
| Average Annual Returns, Inception Date | rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate | Mar. 31, 2009 | ||||
|
Class C
|
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| Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||||
| Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice | none | ||||
| Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of lower of purchase or sale price) | rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther | 1.00% | ||||
| Redemption Fee (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) | rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption | (2.00%) | ||||
| Management fees | rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets | 1.10% | ||||
| Distribution (Rule 12b-1) fees | rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets | 0.75% | ||||
| Other expenses (including shareholder services fees) | rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets | 3.94% | ||||
| Total annual fund operating expenses | rr_ExpensesOverAssets | 5.79% | ||||
| Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement | rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets | (3.44%) | [2] | |||
| Total annual fund operating expenses (after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement) | rr_NetExpensesOverAssets | 2.35% | ||||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year | rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 | 338 | ||||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 | 1,417 | ||||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 | 2,578 | ||||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 | 5,401 | ||||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 | 238 | ||||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 | 1,417 | ||||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 | 2,578 | ||||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 | 5,401 | ||||
| Average Annual Returns, 1 Year | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 14.56% | ||||
| Average Annual Returns, 5 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 | (2.12%) | ||||
| Average Annual Returns, Since Inception | rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception | 6.89% | ||||
| Average Annual Returns, Inception Date | rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate | Mar. 31, 2009 | ||||
|
Class I
|
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| Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||||
| Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice | none | ||||
| Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of lower of purchase or sale price) | rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther | none | ||||
| Redemption Fee (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) | rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption | (2.00%) | ||||
| Management fees | rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets | 1.10% | ||||
| Distribution (Rule 12b-1) fees | rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets | none | ||||
| Other expenses (including shareholder services fees) | rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets | 3.56% | ||||
| Total annual fund operating expenses | rr_ExpensesOverAssets | 4.66% | ||||
| Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement | rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets | (3.31%) | [2] | |||
| Total annual fund operating expenses (after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement) | rr_NetExpensesOverAssets | 1.35% | ||||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year | rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 | 137 | ||||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 | 1,107 | ||||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 | 2,083 | ||||
| Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 | 4,552 | ||||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 | 137 | ||||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 | 1,107 | ||||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 | 2,083 | ||||
| Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 | $ 4,552 | ||||
| Annual Return 2007 | rr_AnnualReturn2007 | 40.45% | ||||
| Annual Return 2008 | rr_AnnualReturn2008 | (50.29%) | ||||
| Annual Return 2009 | rr_AnnualReturn2009 | 76.24% | ||||
| Annual Return 2010 | rr_AnnualReturn2010 | 18.05% | ||||
| Annual Return 2011 | rr_AnnualReturn2011 | (21.81%) | ||||
| Annual Return 2012 | rr_AnnualReturn2012 | 17.14% | ||||
| Average Annual Returns, 1 Year | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 17.14% | ||||
| Average Annual Returns, 5 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 | (1.08%) | ||||
| Average Annual Returns, Since Inception | rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception | 7.77% | ||||
| Average Annual Returns, Inception Date | rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate | Jul. 10, 2006 | ||||
|
Class I | After Taxes on Distributions
|
||||||
| Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||||
| Average Annual Returns, 1 Year | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 17.43% | ||||
| Average Annual Returns, 5 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 | (1.54%) | ||||
| Average Annual Returns, Since Inception | rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception | 6.89% | ||||
|
Class I | After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares
|
||||||
| Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||||
| Average Annual Returns, 1 Year | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 11.43% | ||||
| Average Annual Returns, 5 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 | (0.67%) | ||||
| Average Annual Returns, Since Inception | rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception | 6.77% | ||||
|
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