Stock-based compensation - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2013	Jan. 31, 2012	Jan. 31, 2011
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Percentage of common shares available for grant from outstanding common shares	2.50%
Expense related to director deferred compensation	$ 56	$ 56
Stock Options [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Maximum rate of stock option, description	Not exceeding 25 percent per year
Maximum rate of stock option	25.00%
Option Expiring period	10 years
Compensation expense recognized	1,204	955
Unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested common shares	13,173
Weighted average period expected to be amortized, non vested shares	2 years
Weighted-average expected volatility used	46.30%	46.20%
Weighted average grant date fair value of stock options granted	$ 24.11	$ 17.03
Total intrinsic value of options exercised	6,583	700
Cash received from the exercise of stock options	3,143	534
Tax benefit realized from tax deductions from exercises of stock options	2,076	243
Restricted Stock [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested common shares	3,596
Weighted average period expected to be amortized, non vested shares	2 years
Expense related to nonvested common shares	581	411
Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Periods of performance considered for calculating compensation expense	3 years
Weighted average grant date fair value	$ 59.59	$ 42.12	$ 42.02
Compensation expense charged	1,613	1,000
Cumulative amount recorded in shareholders' equity related to Long-Term Incentive Plan	$ 6,107

Corporate performance measurement period.

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Cumulative amount recorded in shareholders' equity.

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Grant Date Weighted Average Fair Value

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Option expiring period.

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Percentage of common shares available for grant.

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Share based compensation arrangement by share based payment award award maximum vesting percentage.

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Represents the expense recognized during the period arising from equity-based compensation arrangements (for example, shares of stock, unit, stock options or other equity instruments) with employees, directors and certain consultants qualifying for treatment as employees.

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The compensation expense recognized during the period pertaining to the deferred compensation arrangement.

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As of the balance sheet date, the aggregate unrecognized cost of equity-based awards made to employees under equity-based compensation awards that have yet to vest.

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Weighted average period over which unrecognized compensation is expected to be recognized for equity-based compensation plans, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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Disclosure of the aggregate tax benefit realized from the exercise of stock options and the conversion of similar instruments during the annual period.

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The cash inflow associated with the amount received from holders exercising their stock options. This item inherently excludes any excess tax benefit, which the entity may have realized and reported separately.

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The noncash expense that represents the cost of restricted stock or unit distributed to employees as compensation.

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Description of award terms as to how many shares or portion of an award are no longer contingent on satisfaction of either a service condition, market condition or a performance condition, thereby giving the employee the legal right to convert the award to shares, to sell the shares, and be entitled to the cash proceeds of such sale. For example, vesting may be expressed as being 25 percent of the shares under option on each anniversary of the grant date.

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The range of expected volatilities used and the weighted-average expected volatility for an entity using a valuation technique with different volatilities during the contractual term.

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The total accumulated difference between fair values of underlying shares on dates of exercise and exercise price on options which were exercised (or share units converted) into shares during the reporting period under the plan.

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The weighted average grant-date fair value of options granted during the reporting period as calculated by applying the disclosed option pricing methodology.

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The noncash expense that accounts for the value of stock or unit options distributed to employees as compensation.

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