Note 8 - Earnings Per Share (Detail) - Shares Used to Compute Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2012		Jul. 31, 2011		Jul. 31, 2012		Jul. 31, 2011
Net income available to common shares (1) (in Dollars)	$ 10,424	[1]	$ 9,126	[1]	$ 27,808	[1]	$ 21,876	[1]
Basic
Weighted average shares, basic	56,284		54,446		55,700		54,317
Dilutive effect of options	745		677		745		692
Weighted average shares, diluted	57,029		55,123		56,445		55,009
Basic earnings per share (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.19		$ 0.17		$ 0.50		$ 0.40
Diluted earnings per share (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.18		$ 0.17		$ 0.49		$ 0.40
Weighted average anti-dilutive shares excluded from diluted EPS	1,593		3,484		1,981		3,312

[1] Net income available to participating securities was not significant.