Income Taxes Statutory federal income tax rate (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2016	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Federal income tax at statutory rate	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
State and local income taxes, net of federal benefit	(4.40%)	4.70%	0.60%
Valuation allowance change	367.70%	12.60%	(7.40%)
Domestic tax credits	62.70%	(2.10%)	(1.10%)
Domestic production activities deduction	26.40%	(3.20%)	(2.90%)
Foreign operations	(151.10%)	13.20%	0.70%
Revisions to prior period research and research and development tax credit calculations	(0.00%)	(0.00%)	(10.20%)
Adjustment of uncertain tax positions	11.70%	(3.20%)	(1.00%)
Provision to return adjustment for tax law extensions subsequent to year-end	(13.60%)	(13.00%)	(1.00%)
Change in legislation - Mexico	0.00%	0.00%	2.40%
Other	13.10%	0.40%	2.10%
Effective income tax rate	347.50%	44.40%	17.20%