Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2011 Entity Location	Jul. 31, 2010	Jul. 31, 2011 Entity Location	Jul. 31, 2010
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Effective tax rates on income from continuing operations	26.10%	38.60%	32.20%	38.90%
Unrecognized tax benefits, related to re-measurement	$ 4.7		$ 4.7
Unrecognized tax benefits	97.4		97.4
Unrecognized tax benefits, if recognized in the future would affect its effective tax rate	97.2		97.2
Increase (decrease) in unrecognized tax benefits			(4.3)
Unrecognized tax benefits, accrued interest	1.0		1.0
Number of states in which entity operates	50		50
Minimum
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Estimated unrecognized tax benefits, over the next twelve months			1.0
Maximum
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Estimated unrecognized tax benefits, over the next twelve months			6.0
One Source Services Inc | Domestic Country
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Income tax returns open for examination			March 31, 2000 through November 14, 2007
Linc C Corporations | Domestic Country
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Income tax returns open for examination			December 31, 2007 through December 31, 2010
Linc C Corporations | Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Income tax returns open for examination			2008 - 2009
Current Liabilities
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Unrecognized tax benefits	$ 1.0		$ 1.0
Domestic Country
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Income tax returns open for examination			October 31, 2006 through October 31, 2010
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Income tax returns open for examination			2006 - 2008
State and Local Jurisdiction
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Income tax returns open for examination			2006 - 2010