v2.4.0.6

Cash, Cash Equivalents And Investments (Summary Of Cash, Cash Equivalents And Trading And Available-For-Sale Investments) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Feb. 29, 2012	Nov. 30, 2011
Cash, Cash Equivalents And Investments [Line Items]
Cost Basis	$ 354,516	$ 301,111
Unrealized Gains	329	221
Unrealized Losses	(6,338)	(6,377)
Fair Value	348,507	294,955
Cash [Member]
Cash, Cash Equivalents And Investments [Line Items]
Cost Basis	199,407	134,890
Fair Value	199,407	134,890
Money Market Funds [Member]
Cash, Cash Equivalents And Investments [Line Items]
Cost Basis	32,288	24,220
Fair Value	32,288	24,220
State And Municipal Bond Obligations [Member]
Cash, Cash Equivalents And Investments [Line Items]
Cost Basis	77,955	84,193
Unrealized Gains	329	221
Unrealized Losses	(5)	(16)
Fair Value	78,279	84,398
Brazilian Mutual Funds [Member]
Cash, Cash Equivalents And Investments [Line Items]
Cost Basis		15,346
Fair Value		15,346
Auction Rate Securities - Municipal Bonds [Member]
Cash, Cash Equivalents And Investments [Line Items]
Cost Basis	27,175	27,200
Unrealized Losses	(4,209)	(4,269)
Fair Value	22,966	22,931
Auction Rate Securities - Student Loans [Member]
Cash, Cash Equivalents And Investments [Line Items]
Cost Basis	12,500	12,700
Unrealized Losses	(2,123)	(2,092)
Fair Value	10,377	10,608
Corporate Bonds [Member]
Cash, Cash Equivalents And Investments [Line Items]
Cost Basis	5,191	2,562
Unrealized Losses	(1)
Fair Value	$ 5,190	$ 2,562

X

- Definition

Cash, Cash Equivalents, And Investments, Cost Basis.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	prgs_CashCashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsCostBasis
Namespace Prefix:	prgs_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Details

Name:	prgs_CashCashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	prgs_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Cash, Cash Equivalents, And Investments Unrealized Gains.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	prgs_CashCashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsUnrealizedGains
Namespace Prefix:	prgs_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents Available-for-sale Securities which consist of all investments in certain debt and equity securities neither classified as trading or held-to-maturity securities. A debt security represents a creditor relationship with an enterprise. Debt securities include, among other items, US Treasury securities, US government securities, municipal securities, corporate bonds, convertible debt, commercial paper, and all securitized debt instruments. An equity security represents an ownership interest in an enterprise or the right to acquire or dispose of an ownership interest in an enterprise at fixed or determinable prices. Equity securities include, among other things, common stock, certain preferred stock, warrant rights, call options, and put options, but do not include convertible debt. An entity may opt to provide the reader with additional narrative text to better understand the nature of investments in debt and equity securities which are categorized as Available-for-sale.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 115

-Paragraph 12

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.



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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 25

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6379932&loc=d3e22054-111558



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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Available-for-Sale Securities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6505594

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

This item represents the gross unrealized losses for securities, at a point in time, which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLosses1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant