Segment and Geographic Information - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010
Segment Information [Line Items]
Number of segments	4
Identifiable assets	1,718,240	1,764,223	1,696,121
United States [Member]
Segment Information [Line Items]
Identifiable assets	547,000
Largest customer [Member]
Segment Information [Line Items]
Percentage of net revenues from continuing operations	3.00%	3.00%	3.00%
EMEA [Member]
Segment Information [Line Items]
Identifiable assets	718,537	750,378	704,306
EMEA [Member] | France [Member]
Segment Information [Line Items]
Percentage of revenue from unaffiliated customers	30.00%	29.00%	28.00%
EMEA [Member] | Spain [Member]
Segment Information [Line Items]
Percentage of revenue from unaffiliated customers	16.00%	18.00%	19.00%
EMEA [Member] | United Kingdom [Member]
Segment Information [Line Items]
Percentage of revenue from unaffiliated customers	11.00%	8.00%	8.00%