Note 15 - Stock Plans (Detail) - Stock Options Outstanding (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011
Range of Exercise Prices - Lower Range Limit	$ 1.93
Range of Exercise Prices - Upper Range Limit	$ 60.36
Number Outstanding (in Shares)	6,019,070	2,467,170
Weighted-Average Exercise Price	$ 5.97	$ 10.10
Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Life	7 years 62 days	5 years 204 days
$1.93 – $5.00 [Member]
Range of Exercise Prices - Lower Range Limit	$ 1.93	$ 1.93
Range of Exercise Prices - Upper Range Limit	$ 5.00	$ 5.00
Number Outstanding (in Shares)	4,531,491	1,176,588
Weighted-Average Exercise Price	$ 2.95	$ 3.09
Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Life	8 years 21 days	6 years 361 days
$5.01 - $10.00 [Member]
Range of Exercise Prices - Lower Range Limit	$ 5.01	$ 5.01
Range of Exercise Prices - Upper Range Limit	$ 10.00	$ 10.00
Number Outstanding (in Shares)	831,000	634,003
Weighted-Average Exercise Price	$ 6.46	$ 6.46
Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Life	5 years 244 days	5 years 244 days
$10.01 - $20.00 [Member]
Range of Exercise Prices - Lower Range Limit	$ 10.01	$ 10.01
Range of Exercise Prices - Upper Range Limit	$ 20.00	$ 20.00
Number Outstanding (in Shares)	141,704	141,704
Weighted-Average Exercise Price	$ 16.97	$ 16.97
Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Life	87 days	87 days
$20.01 - $30.00 [Member]
Range of Exercise Prices - Lower Range Limit	$ 20.01	$ 20.01
Range of Exercise Prices - Upper Range Limit	$ 30.00	$ 30.00
Number Outstanding (in Shares)	265,000	265,000
Weighted-Average Exercise Price	$ 21.77	$ 21.77
Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Life	4 years 208 days	4 years 208 days
$30.01 - $40.00 [Member]
Range of Exercise Prices - Lower Range Limit	$ 30.01	$ 30.01
Range of Exercise Prices - Upper Range Limit	$ 40.00	$ 40.00
Number Outstanding (in Shares)	204,875	204,875
Weighted-Average Exercise Price	$ 32.53	$ 32.53
Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Life	2 years 281 days	2 years 281 days
$40.01 - $50.00 [Member]
Range of Exercise Prices - Lower Range Limit	$ 40.01	$ 40.01
Range of Exercise Prices - Upper Range Limit	$ 50.00	$ 50.00
Number Outstanding (in Shares)	10,000	10,000
Weighted-Average Exercise Price	$ 41.45	$ 41.45
Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Life	1 year 3 months	1 year 3 months
$50.01 - $60.00 [Member]
Range of Exercise Prices - Lower Range Limit	$ 50.01	$ 50.01
Range of Exercise Prices - Upper Range Limit	$ 60.00	$ 60.00
Number Outstanding (in Shares)	30,000	30,000
Weighted-Average Exercise Price	$ 54.70	$ 54.70
Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Life	2 years 153 days	2 years 153 days
$60.01 - $70.00 [Member]
Range of Exercise Prices - Lower Range Limit	$ 60.01	$ 60.01
Range of Exercise Prices - Upper Range Limit	$ 70.00	$ 70.00
Number Outstanding (in Shares)	5,000	5,000
Weighted-Average Exercise Price	$ 60.36	$ 60.36
Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Life	2 years 244 days	2 years 244 days