Net sales, income (loss) before provision for income taxes and other related segment information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2016	Jan. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 6,984	$ 6,894
Income (loss) from continuing operations before benefit for income taxes	(611)	31
Depreciation and amortization	272	190
RF Connector and Cable Assembly
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	1,956	2,701
Income (loss) from continuing operations before benefit for income taxes	(415)	65
Depreciation and amortization	46	41
Custom Cabling Manufacturing and Assembly
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	4,828	3,617
Income (loss) from continuing operations before benefit for income taxes	(118)	(164)
Depreciation and amortization	220	144
Medical Cabling and Interconnector
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	200	576
Income (loss) from continuing operations before benefit for income taxes	(78)	125
Depreciation and amortization	6	5
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	0	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations before benefit for income taxes	0	5
Depreciation and amortization	$ 0	$ 0

The current period expense charged against earnings on long-lived, physical assets not used in production, and which are not intended for resale, to allocate or recognize the cost of such assets over their useful lives; or to record the reduction in book value of an intangible asset over the benefit period of such asset; or to reflect consumption during the period of an asset that is not used in production.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391035&loc=d3e2868-110229

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3602-108585

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Sum of operating profit and nonoperating income or expense before Income or Loss from equity method investments, income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(h)(1)(i))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

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- Definition

Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

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