Income Taxes Statutory federal income tax rate (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Federal income tax at statutory rate	35.00%	34.90%
State and local income taxes, net of federal benefit	3.50%	3.00%
Valuation allowance change	(1.70%)	0.40%
Domestic tax credits	(0.80%)	0.30%
Domestic production activities deduction	(2.90%)	(2.70%)
Foreign operations	0.90%	1.60%
Stock option expense	0.20%	0.80%
Adjustment of uncertain tax positions	(0.10%)	1.00%
Revisions to prior period estimated income tax calculations	(1.40%)	0.50%
Other	0.30%	0.10%
Effective income tax rate	33.00%	39.90%