Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 28, 2011	Oct. 28, 2011 years		Oct. 29, 2010	Oct. 30, 2009
Impairment of intangible assets		$ 95,139
Finite-lived intangible assets, useful life, minimum, years		10
Finite-lived intangible assets, useful life, maximum, years		40
Pre-tax impairment loss	409,714	409,714	[1]
Impairment of goodwill		314,575
Intangible asset amortization expense		7,638		7,273	7,575
Future amortization expense, current year		7,000
Future amortization expense, year two		7,000
Future amortization expense, year three		7,000
Future amortization expense, year four		7,000
Future amortization expense, year five		7,000
Customer Lists [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets, average useful life, years		32
Other [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets, average useful life, years		3
DIC Corporation [Member] | Customer Lists [Member]
Provisional purchase price allocation, customer lists				3,420
Isocoat [Member] | Customer Lists [Member]
Provisional purchase price allocation, customer lists	10,957	10,957
Isocoat [Member] | Trademarks [Member]
Provisional purchase price allocation, trademarks	1,055	1,055
Wattyl Limited [Member] | Trademarks [Member]
Provisional purchase price allocation, trademarks				$ 8,110

[1] For more information on the Impairment of Goodwill and Intangible Assets see Note 1 and Note 8 in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.