Business Segments and International Operations (Income from Continuing Operations by Segment) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Feb. 28, 2015	Feb. 28, 2014
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Segment revenue	$ 81,381us-gaap_Revenues	$ 74,538us-gaap_Revenues
Segment costs of revenue and operating expenses	32,168us-gaap_OperatingCostsAndExpenses	21,741us-gaap_OperatingCostsAndExpenses
Segment contribution margin	49,213prgs_ContributionProfitLoss	52,797prgs_ContributionProfitLoss
Other unallocated expenses	60,399prgs_OtherUnallocatedExpenses	38,795prgs_OtherUnallocatedExpenses
(Loss) income from operations	(11,186)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	14,002us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Other income (expense), net	933us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense	6us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense
(Loss) income before income taxes	(10,253)	14,008
OpenEdge [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Segment revenue	69,471	66,734
Segment costs of revenue and operating expenses	19,534	17,391
Segment contribution margin	49,937	49,343
Data Connectivity and Integration [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Segment revenue	7,113	7,639
Segment costs of revenue and operating expenses	3,250	2,797
Segment contribution margin	3,863	4,842
Application Development and Deployment [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Segment revenue	4,797	165
Segment costs of revenue and operating expenses	9,384	1,553
Segment contribution margin	$ (4,587)	$ (1,388)

Contribution Profit (Loss)

No definition available.

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- Definition

Other Unallocated Expenses

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	prgs_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the income or loss from continuing operations attributable to the economic entity which may also be defined as revenue less expenses from ongoing operations, after income or loss from equity method investments, but before income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 940

-SubTopic 20

-Section 25

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35710027&loc=d3e41242-110953

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 10

-Article 5

+ Details

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Balance Type:	credit
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- Definition

The aggregate amount of income or expense from ancillary business-related activities (that is to say, excluding major activities considered part of the normal operations of the business).

+ 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 210.5-03.7)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 7

-Article 5

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Generally recurring costs associated with normal operations except for the portion of these expenses which can be clearly related to production and included in cost of sales or services. Excludes Selling, General and Administrative Expense.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
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- Definition

Amount of revenue recognized from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an earning process. Includes, but is not limited to, investment and interest income before deduction of interest expense when recognized as a component of revenue, and sales and trading gain (loss).

+ 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

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

-Article 5

+ Details

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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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