Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows (Detail) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Jul. 27, 2012 USD ($)	Jul. 29, 2011 USD ($)	Jul. 27, 2012 Parent USD ($)	Jul. 29, 2011 Parent USD ($)	Jul. 27, 2012 Guarantor Subsidiaries USD ($)	Jul. 29, 2011 Guarantor Subsidiaries USD ($)	Jul. 27, 2012 Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries USD ($)	Jul. 29, 2011 Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries USD ($)	Jul. 27, 2012 Consolidation, Eliminations USD ($)	Jul. 29, 2011 Consolidation, Eliminations USD ($)
Cash Flows Provided (Used) by Operating Activities
Net earnings (loss) including noncontrolling interests	$ 51,503	$ 113,928	$ 51,503	$ 113,928	$ 74,885	$ 99,524	$ (3,694)	$ 48,439	$ (71,191)	$ (147,963)
Depreciation & amortization	79,265	56,738	0	0	28,556	26,389	50,709	30,349	0	0
Deferred income taxes	(19,636)	823	19,199	8,727	(20,844)	(18)	(17,991)	(7,886)	0	0
Share-based compensation	7,686	5,781	0	0	3,344	2,643	4,342	3,138	0	0
Gain on settlement of contingency	(11,891)	0	0	0	0	0	(11,891)	0	0	0
Goodwill impairment	52,169	0	0	0	0	0	52,169	0	0	0
Working capital changes, net of effect of acquisitions
Accounts receivable	20,975	34,625	12	262	16,088	9,055	4,875	25,308	0	0
Inventories	(27,494)	(34,924)	0	0	(17,107)	(16,564)	(10,387)	(18,360)	0	0
Prepaid expenses	(5,423)	(1,528)	(36)	(71)	(393)	355	(4,994)	(1,812)	0	0
Other current assets	188	(1,565)	9	(26)	(95)	(96)	274	(1,443)	0	0
Accounts payable	(2,466)	383	51	(95)	(409)	833	(2,108)	(355)	0	0
Accrued liabilities	16,923	1,773	7,489	5,399	(2,201)	(318)	11,635	(3,308)	0	0
Federal & foreign income taxes	2,151	3,577	8,148	3,477	(1,745)	(4,591)	(4,252)	4,691	0	0
Other liabilities	(15,074)	(20,112)	5,718	(632)	(17,698)	(17,956)	(3,094)	(1,524)	0	0
Other, net	2,371	(1,040)	(83)	1,539	494	(12,165)	1,960	9,586	0	0
Net Cash Provided (Used) by Operating Activities	151,247	158,459	91,010	132,508	62,875	87,091	67,553	86,823	(71,191)	(147,963)
Cash Flows Provided (Used) by Investing Activities
Purchases of capital assets	(39,456)	(35,227)	(1,466)	(102)	(18,728)	(17,202)	(19,262)	(17,923)	0	0
Proceeds from sale of capital assets	1,139	913	0	0	464	262	675	651	0	0
Escrow deposit	0	(14,000)	0	(14,000)	0	0	0	0	0	0
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	0	(811,914)	0	0	0	(103,039)	0	(708,875)	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(38,317)	(860,228)	(1,466)	(14,102)	(18,264)	(119,979)	(18,587)	(726,147)	0	0
Cash Flows Provided (Used) by Financing Activities
Proceeds provided by stock issuance under employee stock plans	7,331	13,244	7,331	13,244	0	0	0	0	0	0
Excess tax benefits from stock options exercised	221	1,830	221	1,830	0	0	0	0	0	0
Dividends paid to non- controlling interests	0	(238)	0	0	0	0	0	(238)	0	0
Debt and other issuance costs	0	(5,374)	0	(3,616)	0	0	0	(1,758)	0	0
Proceeds from credit facilities	127	395,000	0	395,000	0	0	127	0	0	0
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	0	179,975	0	0	0	0	0	179,975	0	0
Repayment of long-term debt and credit facilities	(104,131)	(118,158)	(60,000)	(120,313)	(306)	(255)	(43,825)	2,410	0	0
Proceeds from government assistance	17,203	14,950	0	0	0	0	17,203	14,950	0	0
Net change in intercompany financing	0	0	(54,603)	(534,804)	(46,752)	35,232	30,164	351,609	71,191	147,963
Net Cash Provided (Used) by Financing Activities	(79,249)	481,229	(107,051)	(248,659)	(47,058)	34,977	3,669	546,948	71,191	147,963
Effect of Foreign Exchange Rates on Cash	(5,643)	6,258	(4)	1	7	(4)	(5,646)	6,261	0	0
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	28,038	(214,282)	(16,511)	(130,252)	(2,440)	2,085	46,989	(86,115)	0	0
Cash and Cash Equivalents - Beginning of Period	185,035	422,120	49,837	205,050	13,450	2,317	121,748	214,753	0	0
Cash and Cash Equivalents - End of Period	$ 213,073	$ 207,838	$ 33,326	$ 74,798	$ 11,010	$ 4,402	$ 168,737	$ 128,638	$ 0	$ 0