Components of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011
Deferred Tax Assets And Liabilities [Line Items]
Accruals and reserves	$ 30,317	$ 16,274
Deferred revenue	46,247	47,603
Deferred compensation	39,186	36,975
Capitalized costs	94,031	98,420
Capitalized research and development costs	48,059	45,710
Stock compensation	21,229	32,186
Tax loss carryovers	73,492	36,515
Foreign tax credit carryovers	10,766	23,759
Research and other tax credit carryovers	88,973	74,110
Capital loss carryovers		1,896
Other	2,449	1,349
Gross deferred tax assets	454,749	414,797
Valuation allowance	(26,259)	(13,395)
Total deferred tax assets	428,490	401,402
Intangible assets	116,639	49,948
Undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries	831	12,631
Total deferred tax liabilities	117,470	62,579
Net deferred tax assets	$ 311,020	$ 338,823