| **Supplemental cash flow information (Tables)**                    | 12 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
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| **Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract]**                  |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| Schedule of Cash Flow, Supplemental Disclosures [Table Text Block] | The following table provides additional information about the Company's Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended October 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010:  For the Years EndedOctober 31,   2012 2011 2010(in millions)     Equity in income of affiliated companies, net of dividends     Equity in loss of non-consolidated affiliates$29 $71 $50Dividends from non-consolidated affiliates7 4 5Equity in loss of non-consolidated affiliates, net of dividends$36 $75 $55Other non-cash operating activities     Loss on sales of affiliates$3 $— $8Gain on increased equity interest in subsidiary— (6) —Loss on sale of property and equipment4 2 1Loss (gain) on sale and impairment of repossessed collateral— (1) 9Loss on sale of finance receivables— — 39Write-off of debt issuance cost13 — 4Gain on settlement of financing arrangement— (10) —Other non-cash operating activities$20 $(15) $61Changes in other assets and liabilities     Other current assets$1 $(28) $(39)Other noncurrent assets16 (32) 7Other current liabilities198 130 (73)Postretirement benefits liabilities(79) 9 (40)Other noncurrent liabilities292 94 (16)Other, net(8) (9) 1Changes in other assets and liabilities$420 $164 $(160)Cash paid during the year     Interest, net of amounts capitalized$195 $208 $170Income taxes, net of refunds51 9 27Non-cash investing and financing activities     Property and equipment acquired under capital leases$58 $— $12Transfers from inventories to property and equipment for leases to others37 9 34 |

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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of supplemental cash flow information for the periods presented.
+ References
No definition available.
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