Consolidated Statements Of Equity And Comprehensive Income (Loss) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Total TIBCO Software, Inc. Stockholders' Equity [Member]	Non-Controlling Interest [Member]	Total
Balances at Nov. 30, 2008	$ 174	$ 761,473	$ (44,425)	$ 24,151	$ 741,643	$ 358	$ 742,001
Balances, shares at Nov. 30, 2008	174,296
Components of comprehensive income:
Net income				62,302	62,302	218	62,520
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax effects			28,065		28,065	156	28,221
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments, no tax			(53)		(53)		(53)
Comprehensive income (loss)					90,314	374	90,688
Common stock repurchased and retired	(13)	(58,501)		(47,933)	(106,447)		(106,447)
Common stock repurchased and retired, shares	(12,928)						(12,928)
Common stock options exercised	4	25,974			25,978		25,978
Common stock options exercised, shares	4,290
Common stock issued for employee stock purchase program	1	2,424			2,425		2,425
Common stock issued for employee stock purchase program, shares	520
Tax benefits from employee stock options plans		21,573			21,573		21,573
Stock-based compensation		23,546			23,546		23,546
Restricted stock withholding taxes net-settlement		(2,283)			(2,283)		(2,283)
Restricted stock withholding taxes net-settlement, shares	(318)
Restricted stock awards	2	(2)
Restricted stock awards, shares	1,878
Balances at Nov. 30, 2009	168	774,474	(16,413)	38,520	796,749	732	797,481
Balances, shares at Nov. 30, 2009	167,738
Components of comprehensive income:
Net income				78,088	78,088	383	78,471
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax effects			(5,680)		(5,680)	48	(5,632)
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments, no tax			17		17		17
Comprehensive income (loss)					72,425	431	72,856
Common stock repurchased and retired	(15)	(87,657)		(116,608)	(204,280)		(204,280)
Common stock repurchased and retired, shares	(15,084)						(15,084)
Common stock options exercised	10	83,892			83,902		83,902
Common stock options exercised, shares	9,850
Common stock issued for employee stock purchase program		3,038			3,038		3,038
Common stock issued for employee stock purchase program, shares	388
Tax benefits from employee stock options plans		30,626			30,626		30,626
Stock-based compensation		32,248			32,248		32,248
Restricted stock withholding taxes net-settlement		(6,140)			(6,140)		(6,140)
Restricted stock withholding taxes net-settlement, shares	(536)
Restricted stock awards	2	(2)
Restricted stock awards, shares	2,166
Balances at Nov. 30, 2010	165	830,479	(22,076)		808,568	1,163	809,731
Balances, shares at Nov. 30, 2010	164,522						164,522
Components of comprehensive income:
Net income				112,406	112,406	229	112,635
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax effects			1,009		1,009	(307)	702
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments, no tax			35		35		35
Comprehensive income (loss)					113,450	(78)	113,372
Common stock repurchased and retired	(7)	(94,388)		(99,664)	(194,059)		(194,059)
Common stock repurchased and retired, shares	(7,310)						(7,310)
Common stock options exercised	8	76,575			76,583		76,583
Common stock options exercised, shares	8,018						8,018
Common stock issued for employee stock purchase program		4,026			4,026		4,026
Common stock issued for employee stock purchase program, shares	256
Tax benefits from employee stock options plans		8,552			8,552		8,552
Stock-based compensation		48,867			48,867		48,867
Restricted stock withholding taxes net-settlement	(1)	(17,920)			(17,921)		(17,921)
Restricted stock withholding taxes net-settlement, shares	(672)
Restricted stock awards	1	(1)
Restricted stock awards, shares	1,473
Balances at Nov. 30, 2011	$ 166	$ 856,190	$ (21,032)	$ 12,742	$ 848,066	$ 1,085	$ 849,151
Balances, shares at Nov. 30, 2011	166,287						166,287