Notes payable (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 09, 2011	Oct. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010
Bank lines of credit and notes
Maximum borrowings under bank lines of credit	$ 500,000	$ 43,305	$ 39,710
Outstanding notes payable		33	2,160
Weighted-average interest rate on notes payable		1.50%	4.10%
Unused bank lines of credit		43,272	37,550
Domestic Bank Debt [Member]
Bank lines of credit and notes
Maximum borrowings under bank lines of credit		0	0
Outstanding notes payable		0	0
Foreign Bank Debt [Member]
Bank lines of credit and notes
Maximum borrowings under bank lines of credit		43,305	39,710
Outstanding notes payable		$ 33	$ 2,160

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Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 129

-Paragraph 2, 4

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding).

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

+ Details

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- Definition

Carrying amount at the balance sheet date of borrowings from a bank, not elsewhere enumerated in the taxonomy, with a maturity within one year (or within one operating cycle if longer) from the date of borrowing.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19

-Subparagraph a

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 16

-Article 7

+ Details

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- Definition

Reflects the calculation as of the balance-sheet date of the average interest rate weighted by the amount of short-term debt outstanding by type or by instrument at that time.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19

-Subparagraph b

-Article 5

+ Details

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