Income Taxes Activities and balances of unrecognized tax benefits (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Balance at beginning of year	$ 1,069	$ 851
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Increases Resulting from Current Period Tax Positions	126	63
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Increases Resulting from Prior Period Tax Positions	89	120
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Decreases Resulting from Prior Period Tax Positions	(13)	(7)
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Reductions Resulting from Lapse of Applicable Statute of Limitations	(24)	42
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Balance at end of year	1,247	1,069
Unrecognized Tax Benefits that Would Impact Effective Tax Rate	820	695
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Expense	148	173
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Accrued	$ 1,008	$ 860