Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2012 Location	Jul. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2012 Location	Jul. 31, 2011
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Effective tax rate on income from continuing operations	41.30%	26.10%	38.80%	32.20%
Provision for income taxes	$ 8,887,000	$ 9,874,000	$ 22,204,000	$ 23,940,000
Unrecognized tax benefit	96,700,000		96,700,000
Unrecognized tax benefits, accrued interest	1,400,000		1,400,000
Estimated decrease in unrecognized tax benefits			(8,700,000)
Number of states in which entity operates	50		50
Current Liabilities
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Unrecognized tax benefit	800,000		800,000
Domestic Country
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Income tax returns open for examination			October 31, 2006 through October 31, 2011
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) | Period 1
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Income tax years currently being examined			2006
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) | Period 2
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Income tax years currently being examined			2007
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) | Period 3
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Income tax years currently being examined			2008
State and Local Jurisdiction
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Income tax returns open for examination			Tax years 2007 through 2011
OneSource 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, 2008 through December 31, 2010
Related to re-measurement of certain unrecognized tax benefits
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Provision for income taxes		$ 4,700,000		$ 4,700,000