Retirement, pension and other postretirement plans (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010
Pension plan, United States [Member]
For all plans:
Accumulated benefit obligation	$ 261,767	$ 223,966
For plans with benefit obligations in excess of plan assets:
Projected benefit obligation	268,949	237,370
Accumulated benefit obligation	261,767	223,966
Fair value of plan assets	184,701	175,864
Pension plan International [Member]
For all plans:
Accumulated benefit obligation	56,529	55,865
For plans with benefit obligations in excess of plan assets:
Projected benefit obligation	64,945	60,050
Accumulated benefit obligation	54,749	49,631
Fair value of plan assets	$ 30,185	$ 23,047

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For defined benefit pension plans, the actuarial present value of benefits (whether vested or nonvested) attributed by the pension benefit formula to employee service rendered before a specified date and based on employee service and compensation (if applicable) before that date. The accumulated benefit obligation differs from the projected benefit obligation in that it includes no assumption about future compensation levels. For plans with flat-benefit or nonpay-related pension benefit formulas, the accumulated benefit obligation and the projected benefit obligation are the same.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 132R

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph e

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- Definition

If aggregate disclosures are presented, the aggregate pension accumulated benefit obligation for pension plans with accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets as of the measurement date of each statement of financial position presented.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 132R

-Paragraph 6

-Subparagraph b

+ Details

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- Definition

If aggregate disclosures are presented, the aggregate fair value of plan assets for pension plans with accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets as of the measurement date of each statement of financial position presented.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 132R

-Paragraph 6

-Subparagraph b

+ Details

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- Definition

If aggregate disclosures are presented, the aggregate projected benefit obligation for pension plans with accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets as of the measurement date of each statement of financial position presented.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 132R

-Paragraph C3

+ Details

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