Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) - Quarterly Results of Operations (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011
Quarterly Results Of Operations [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	$ 3.4	$ 10.5	$ 8.8	$ 33.4	$ 30.5
Gain on sale of timberland			23.1	7.6	16.1
Asset impairment charges	28.2		34.0	12.9	9.0
Acquisition-related charges		3.2
Timber Properties [Member]
Quarterly Results Of Operations [Line Items]
Gain on sale of timberland	$ 17.5		$ 17.5

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Amount of write-down of assets recognized in the income statement. Includes, but is not limited to, losses from tangible assets, intangible assets and goodwill.

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- Definition

This element represents acquisition-related costs incurred to effect a business combination which costs have been expensed during the period. Such costs include finder's fees; advisory, legal, accounting, valuation, and other professional or consulting fees; general administrative costs, including the costs of maintaining an internal acquisitions department; and may include costs of registering and issuing debt and equity securities.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 10

-Section 25

-Paragraph 23

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- Definition

Amount of gain (loss) on sale or disposal of property, plant and equipment assets, including oil and gas property and timber property.

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- Definition

Amount of expenses associated with exit or disposal activities pursuant to an authorized plan. Excludes expenses related to a discontinued operation or an asset retirement obligation.

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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)

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 420

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 5

-Section P

-Subsection 3, 4

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