Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2014	Jan. 31, 2013
Unrealized (losses) gains on auction rate securities, Pre-tax amounts:
Unrealized (losses) gains on auction rate securities, Pre-tax amounts	$ 0	$ 52
Unrealized gains (losses) on interest rate swaps, Pre-tax amounts:
Unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period, Pre-tax amounts	(122)	(4)
Reclassification adjustment for loss included in interest expense, Pre-tax amounts	161	43
Net unrealized gains (losses) on interest rate swaps, Pre-tax amounts	39	39
Foreign currency translation, Pre-tax amounts	(260)	(116)
Defined and postretirement benefit plans adjustments, Pre-tax amounts:
Reclassification adjustment for amortization of actuarial losses, Pre-tax amounts	26	35
Reclassification adjustment for settlement losses, Pre-tax amounts	0	27
Net defined and postretirement benefit plans adjustments, Pre-tax amounts	26	62
Total other comprehensive income (loss), Pre-tax amounts	(195)	37
Unrealized (losses) gains on auction rate securities, Tax expense/(benefit):
Unrealized (losses) gains on auction rate securities, Tax expense/(benefit)	0	21
Unrealized gains (losses) on interest rate swaps, Tax expense/(benefit):
Unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period, Tax expense/(benefit)	(50)	(1)
Reclassification adjustment for loss included in interest expense, Tax expense/(benefit)	66	18
Net unrealized gains (losses) on interest rate swaps, Tax expense/(benefit)	16	17
Foreign currency translation, Tax expense/(benefit)	0	0
Defined and postretirement benefit plans adjustments, Tax expense/(benefit)
Reclassification adjustment for amortization of actuarial losses, Tax expense/(benefit)	11	14
Reclassification adjustment for settlement losses, Tax expense/(benefit)	0	11
Net defined and postretirement benefit plans adjustments, Tax expense/(benefit)	11	25
Total other comprehensive income (loss), Tax expense/(benefit)	27	63
Net income, After-tax amounts	13,069	13,382
Unrealized (losses) gains on auction rate securities, After-tax amounts:
Unrealized (losses) gains on auction rate securities, After-tax amounts	0	31
Unrealized gains (losses) on interest rate swaps, After-tax amounts:
Unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period, After-tax amounts	(72)	(3)
Reclassification adjustment for loss included in interest expense, After-tax amounts	95	25
Net unrealized gains (losses) on interest rate swaps, After-tax amounts	23	22
Foreign currency translation, After-tax amounts	(260)	(116)
Defined and postretirement benefit plans adjustments, After-tax amounts:
Reclassification adjustment for amortization of actuarial losses, After-tax amounts	15	21
Reclassification adjustment for settlement losses, After-tax amounts	0	16
Net defined and postretirement benefit plans adjustments, After-tax amounts	15	37
Total other comprehensive income (loss), After-tax amounts	(222)	(26)
Comprehensive income, After-tax amounts	$ 12,847	$ 13,356