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Post Retirement Benefit Plans - Number of Participants in Defined Benefit Plans (Detail) | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Oct. 31, 2012 Participant | Oct. 31, 2011 Participant
Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] |  |
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items] |  |
Active participants | 2,402 | 2,507
Vested former employees | 3,660 | 3,581
Retirees and beneficiaries | 4,043 | 3,749
Other plan participants | 35 | 1
USA [Member] |  |
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items] |  |
Active participants | 2,004 | 2,113
Vested former employees | 2,913 | 2,923
Retirees and beneficiaries | 2,210 | 2,142
Other plan participants | 0 | 0
Germany [Member] |  |
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items] |  |
Active participants | 127 | 125
Vested former employees | 63 | 68
Retirees and beneficiaries | 248 | 245
Other plan participants | 0 | 0
United Kingdom [Member] |  |
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items] |  |
Active participants | 158 | 158
Vested former employees | 418 | 418
Retirees and beneficiaries | 726 | 726
Other plan participants | 0 | 0
Netherlands [Member] |  |
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items] |  |
Active participants | 48 | 46
Vested former employees | 249 | 154
Retirees and beneficiaries | 804 | 583
Other plan participants | 35 | 1
Other International [Member] |  |
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items] |  |
Active participants | 65 | 65
Vested former employees | 17 | 18
Retirees and beneficiaries | 55 | 53
Other plan participants | 0 | 0
Postretirement Health Care and Life Insurance Benefits [Member] | Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] |  |
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items] |  |
Active participants | 31 | 32
Vested former employees | 0 | 0
Retirees and beneficiaries | 916 | 1,112
Other plan participants | 0 | 0
Postretirement Health Care and Life Insurance Benefits [Member] | USA [Member] |  |
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items] |  |
Active participants | 12 | 12
Vested former employees | 0 | 0
Retirees and beneficiaries | 812 | 1,000
Other plan participants | 0 | 0
Postretirement Health Care and Life Insurance Benefits [Member] | South Africa [Member] |  |
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items] |  |
Active participants | 19 | 20
Vested former employees | 0 | 0
Retirees and beneficiaries | 104 | 112
Other plan participants | 0 | 0

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- Definition Other Plan Participants Numerous Defined Benefit Pension Plans + References No definition available. + Details
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- Details
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- Definition Retirees And Beneficiaries Numerous Defined Benefit Pension Plans + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Vested Former Employees Numerous Defined Benefit Pension Plans + References No definition available. + Details
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