Supplemental Subsidiary Guarantors - Supplement Condensed Consolidated Statements (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 26, 2012	Oct. 28, 2011	Oct. 29, 2010	Oct. 30, 2009
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 5,660,889	$ 4,403,906	$ 3,524,334
Cost of sales	3,783,802	2,897,605	2,350,708
Product development, selling and administrative expenses	736,776	602,010	480,636
Operating income (loss)	1,172,559	920,179	697,103
Reorganization items		(35)	(1,310)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity	1,105,131	895,833	679,024
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	337,870	264,831	217,525
Income from continuing operations	767,261	631,002	461,499
Income from continuing operations attributable to non-controlling interest	(180)
Income from continuing operations	767,081	631,002	461,499
ASSETS
Current assets	3,156,077	3,564,007
Property, plant and equipment - net	832,862	539,571
Total assets	6,142,503	5,426,354	3,271,013
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Long-term debt	1,306,625	1,356,412
Accrued pension costs	335,813	332,452
Other non-current liabilities	116,495	37,069
Shareholders' equity	2,577,189	1,951,795	1,342,366	800,711
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	6,142,503	5,426,354
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities - continuing operations	463,915	499,726	583,489
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities - discontinued operations	(21,054)	4,967
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities	442,861	504,693	583,489
Investing Activities
Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired	(955,917)	(1,048,908)
Proceeds from sale of LeTourneau Technologies Drilling Systems, Inc.	(56,270)	375,000
Deposits of cash into escrow	866,000	(866,000)
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities - continuing operations	(378,329)	(2,021,877)	(74,915)
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities - discontinuing operations
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities	(378,329)	(2,021,877)	(74,915)
Financing Activities
Share-based payment awards	33,398	68,323	36,419
Dividends paid	(73,961)	(73,262)	(72,088)
Issuance of senior notes		495,755
Borrowings under term loan	250,000	500,000
Changes in short and long-term obligations, net	(4,492)	5,210	(146,176)
Financing fees	(5,304)	(13,060)	(3,211)
Net cash (used) provided by financing activities - continuing operations	(81,609)	976,716	(185,056)
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities - discontinuing operations
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities	(81,609)	976,716	(185,056)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(7,371)	13,208	20,378
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(24,448)	(527,260)	343,896
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	288,321	815,581	471,685
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	263,873	288,321	815,581
Parent Company Supplemental Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Product development, selling and administrative expenses	69,012	65,239
Operating income (loss)	(69,012)	(65,239)
Intercompany items	66,366	46,179
Interest income (expense) - net	(52,244)	(35,487)
Reorganization items		(35)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity	(54,890)	(54,582)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	(65,450)	(66,365)
Equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries	756,701	619,219
Income from continuing operations	767,261
Income from continuing operations attributable to non-controlling interest	(180)
Income from continuing operations	767,081	631,002
ASSETS
Current assets	97,443	1,053,875
Property, plant and equipment - net	12,515	1,530
Other assets	4,178,760	2,632,946
Total assets	4,288,718	3,688,351
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities	106,207	61,269
Long-term debt	1,305,413	1,354,704
Accrued pension costs	322,310	318,173
Other non-current liabilities	(22,401)	2,410
Shareholders' equity	2,577,189	1,951,795
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	4,288,718	3,688,351
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities - continuing operations	145,654	982,185
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities	145,654	982,185
Investing Activities
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	(1,028,829)	(376,724)
Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired		(1,048,908)
Withdrawal of cash held in escrow	866,000
Deposits of cash into escrow		(866,000)
Other	(2,429)	(1,173)
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities - continuing operations	(165,258)	(2,292,805)
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities - discontinuing operations
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities	(165,258)	(2,292,805)
Financing Activities
Share-based payment awards		68,323
Dividends paid		(73,262)
Issuance of senior notes		495,755
Borrowings under term loan		500,000
Changes in short and long-term obligations, net		(6,250)
Financing fees		(13,060)
Net cash (used) provided by financing activities - continuing operations	(77,118)	971,506
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities - discontinuing operations
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities	(77,118)	971,506
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(96,722)	(339,114)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	100,181	439,295
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	3,459	100,181
Supplemental Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	3,275,658	2,761,635
Cost of sales	2,249,895	1,847,957
Product development, selling and administrative expenses	328,486	286,328
Other (income) and expense	26,730	19,007
Operating income (loss)	670,547	608,343
Intercompany items	(53,331)	(37,107)
Interest income (expense) - net	892	2,248
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity	618,108	573,484
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	309,207	240,107
Equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries	393,246	140,514
Income from continuing operations	702,147
Income from continuing operations	702,147	473,891
ASSETS
Current assets	1,129,867	1,180,749
Property, plant and equipment - net	374,324	316,377
Intangible assets-net	818,435	792,972
Other assets	2,517,019	1,966,826
Total assets	4,839,645	4,256,924
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities	748,369	900,871
Long-term debt	1,212	1,638
Accrued pension costs	6,589	6,950
Other non-current liabilities	10,205	9,373
Shareholders' equity	4,073,270	3,338,092
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	4,839,645	4,256,924
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities - continuing operations	157,646	(314,135)
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities	157,646	(314,135)
Investing Activities
Proceeds from sale of LeTourneau Technologies Drilling Systems, Inc.		375,000
Other	(168,087)	(63,016)
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities - continuing operations	(168,087)	311,984
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities - discontinuing operations
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities	(168,087)	311,984
Financing Activities
Changes in short and long-term obligations, net		2,041
Net cash (used) provided by financing activities - continuing operations	(404)	2,041
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities - discontinuing operations
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities	(404)	2,041
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(10,845)	(110)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	16,152	16,262
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	5,307	16,152
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries Supplemental Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	3,851,960	2,738,852
Cost of sales	2,729,720	1,900,115
Product development, selling and administrative expenses	339,278	250,443
Other (income) and expense	(58,978)	(34,717)
Operating income (loss)	841,940	623,011
Intercompany items	(113,029)	(123,156)
Interest income (expense) - net	(16,076)	8,928
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity	712,835	508,783
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	94,113	91,089
Income from continuing operations	618,722
Income from continuing operations attributable to non-controlling interest	(180)
Income from continuing operations	618,542	417,694
ASSETS
Current assets	2,149,820	1,551,603
Property, plant and equipment - net	446,023	221,664
Intangible assets-net	1,153,147	20,947
Other assets	1,814,876	1,182,149
Total assets	5,563,866	2,976,363
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities	1,007,720	863,050
Long-term debt		70
Accrued pension costs	6,914	7,329
Other non-current liabilities	154,255	49,341
Shareholders' equity	4,394,977	2,056,573
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	5,563,866	2,976,363
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities - continuing operations	160,615	(168,324)
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities - discontinued operations	(21,054)	4,967
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities	139,561	(163,357)
Investing Activities
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	72,912
Other	(117,896)	(41,056)
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities - continuing operations	(44,984)	(41,056)
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities - discontinuing operations
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities	(44,984)	(41,056)
Financing Activities
Changes in short and long-term obligations, net		3,169
Net cash (used) provided by financing activities - continuing operations	(4,087)	3,169
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities - discontinuing operations
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities	(4,087)	3,169
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(7,371)	13,208
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	83,119	(188,036)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	171,988	360,024
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	255,107	171,988
Consolidated Supplemental Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	5,660,889	4,403,906
Cost of sales	3,783,802	2,897,605
Product development, selling and administrative expenses	736,776	602,010
Other (income) and expense	(32,248)	(15,888)
Operating income (loss)	1,172,559	920,179
Interest income (expense) - net	(67,428)	(24,311)
Reorganization items		(35)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity	1,105,131	895,833
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	337,870	264,831
Income from continuing operations	767,261
Income from continuing operations attributable to non-controlling interest	(180)
Income from continuing operations	767,081	631,002
ASSETS
Current assets	3,156,077	3,564,007
Property, plant and equipment - net	832,862	539,571
Intangible assets-net	1,971,582	813,919
Other assets	181,982	508,857
Total assets	6,142,503	5,426,354
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities	1,780,817	1,724,571
Long-term debt	1,306,625	1,356,412
Accrued pension costs	335,813	332,452
Other non-current liabilities	142,059	61,124
Shareholders' equity	2,577,189	1,951,795
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	6,142,503	5,426,354
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities - continuing operations	463,915	499,726
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities - discontinued operations	(21,054)	4,967
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities	442,861	504,693
Investing Activities
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	(955,917)	(376,724)
Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired		(1,048,908)
Withdrawal of cash held in escrow	866,000
Proceeds from sale of LeTourneau Technologies Drilling Systems, Inc.		375,000
Deposits of cash into escrow		(866,000)
Other	(288,412)	(105,245)
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities - continuing operations	(378,329)	(2,021,877)
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities - discontinuing operations
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities	(378,329)	(2,021,877)
Financing Activities
Share-based payment awards		68,323
Dividends paid		(73,262)
Issuance of senior notes		495,755
Borrowings under term loan		500,000
Changes in short and long-term obligations, net		(1,040)
Financing fees		(13,060)
Net cash (used) provided by financing activities - continuing operations	(81,609)	976,716
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities - discontinuing operations
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities	(81,609)	976,716
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(7,371)	13,208
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(24,448)	(527,260)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	288,321	815,581
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	263,873	288,321
Eliminations Supplemental Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	(1,466,729)	(1,096,581)
Cost of sales	(1,195,813)	(850,467)
Other (income) and expense		(178)
Operating income (loss)	(270,916)	(245,936)
Intercompany items	99,994	114,084
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity	(170,922)	(131,852)
Equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries	(1,149,947)	(759,733)
Income from continuing operations	(1,320,869)
Income from continuing operations attributable to non-controlling interest	180
Income from continuing operations	(1,320,689)	(891,585)
ASSETS
Current assets	(221,053)	(222,220)
Other assets	(8,328,673)	(5,273,064)
Total assets	(8,549,726)	(5,495,284)
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities	(81,479)	(100,619)
Shareholders' equity	(8,468,247)	(5,394,665)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (8,549,726)	$ (5,495,284)