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Business Segment Information - Total assets by segments (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended |  |  |  |  |  |
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Oct. 31, 2012 | Oct. 31, 2011 | Oct. 31, 2010 | Jul. 31, 2012 | Apr. 30, 2012 | Jan. 31, 2012 | Jul. 31, 2011 | Apr. 30, 2011 | Jan. 31, 2011
Total assets by segments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total assets | $ 3,856.9 | $ 4,188.8 | $ 3,481.5 | $ 3,904.6 | $ 4,011.3 | $ 4,046.7 | $ 3,983.7 | $ 3,694.8 | $ 3,509.8
Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total depreciation, depletion and amortization expense | 154.7 | 144.2 | 116.0 |  |  |  |  |  |
Rigid Industrial Packaging & Services [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total assets by segments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total assets | 2,484.7 | 2,719.7 | 2,041.2 |  |  |  |  |  |
Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total depreciation, depletion and amortization expense | 105.1 | 93.0 | 79.1 |  |  |  |  |  |
Flexible Products & Services [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total assets by segments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total assets | 363.8 | 383.5 | 353.7 |  |  |  |  |  |
Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total depreciation, depletion and amortization expense | 14.7 | 16.6 | 4.9 |  |  |  |  |  |
Paper Packaging [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total assets by segments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total assets | 401.7 | 420.4 | 435.6 |  |  |  |  |  |
Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total depreciation, depletion and amortization expense | 31.6 | 31.6 | 29.2 |  |  |  |  |  |
Land Management [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total assets by segments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total assets | 280.5 | 280.1 | 274.4 |  |  |  |  |  |
Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total depreciation, depletion and amortization expense | 3.3 | 3.0 | 2.8 |  |  |  |  |  |
Total Segment [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total assets by segments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total assets | 3,530.7 | 3,803.7 | 3,104.9 |  |  |  |  |  |
Corporate and Other [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total assets by segments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total assets | $ 326.2 | $ 385.1 | $ 376.6 |  |  |  |  |  |

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- Definition The aggregate expense recognized in the current period that allocates the cost of tangible assets, intangible assets, or depleting assets to periods that benefit from use of the assets. + References Reference 1: 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=6943989&loc=d3e3602-108585 + Details
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