Business Segments and International Operations (Income from Continuing Operations by Segment) (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2017 USD ($) segment	Aug. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments | segment			3
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Segment revenue	$ 97,310	$ 102,018	$ 281,493	$ 287,617
Segment costs of revenue and operating expenses	26,943	32,029	78,965	91,957
Segment contribution margin	70,367	69,989	202,528	195,660
Other unallocated expenses	50,068	56,383	160,723	163,005
Income from operations	20,299	13,606	41,805	32,655
Other (expense) income, net	(1,400)	(1,288)	(4,299)	(4,474)
Income before income taxes	18,899	12,318	37,506	28,181
OpenEdge [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Segment revenue	68,135	67,534	198,533	198,595
Segment costs of revenue and operating expenses	18,374	18,180	52,538	53,539
Segment contribution margin	49,761	49,354	145,995	145,056
Data Connectivity and Integration [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Segment revenue	8,987	14,251	22,911	30,852
Segment costs of revenue and operating expenses	2,200	2,828	6,531	8,863
Segment contribution margin	6,787	11,423	16,380	21,989
Application Development and Deployment [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Segment revenue	20,188	20,233	60,049	58,170
Segment costs of revenue and operating expenses	6,369	11,021	19,896	29,555
Segment contribution margin	$ 13,819	$ 9,212	$ 40,153	$ 28,615