diff --git a/src/ldaptool/_main.py b/src/ldaptool/_main.py
index 527ec37..94b070c 100644
--- a/src/ldaptool/_main.py
+++ b/src/ldaptool/_main.py
@@ -2,18 +2,74 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 
 import argparse
 import csv
+import dataclasses
 import subprocess
 import sys
 import typing
 
 from ldaptool import decode, search
+from ldaptool._utils import argclasses
 from ldaptool._utils.ldap import Result, SizeLimitExceeded
 
 
+@dataclasses.dataclass(slots=True, kw_only=True)
+class Arguments(search.Arguments):
+    raw: bool = dataclasses.field(
+        default=False,
+        metadata=argclasses.arg(help="Don't pipe output through ldap-decode"),
+    )
+    csv: bool = dataclasses.field(
+        default=False,
+        metadata=argclasses.arg(help="CSV output - requires list of attributes"),
+    )
+    table: bool = dataclasses.field(
+        default=False,
+        metadata=argclasses.arg(
+            help="Markdown table output - requires list of attributes",
+        ),
+    )
+    sort: bool = dataclasses.field(
+        default=False,
+        metadata=argclasses.arg(
+            help="Sorted table output - defaults to markdown --table unless --csv is given",
+        ),
+    )
+
+    def __post_init__(self) -> None:
+        super(Arguments, self).__post_init__()  # super() not working here, unclear why.
+
+        # can't print both csv and markdown
+        if self.csv and self.table:
+            raise SystemExit("Can't use both --table and --csv")
+
+        if self.sort:
+            if not self.table and not self.csv:
+                # default to markdown table
+                self.table = True
+
+        if self.table:
+            # markdown requires underlying csv
+            self.csv = True
+
+        if self.csv:
+            if not self.columns:
+                raise SystemExit("Table output requires attributes")
+            if self.json:
+                raise SystemExit("Can't use both --table / --csv / --sort and --json")
+            if self.human:
+                raise SystemExit("Can't use both --table / --csv / --sort and --human")
+
+        if self.raw:
+            if self.csv:
+                raise SystemExit("Table output requires decode; --raw not allowed")
+            if self.json or self.human:
+                raise SystemExit("Decode options require decode; --raw not allowed")
+
+
 class _Context:
     def __init__(self) -> None:
         parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
-        arguments_p = search.Arguments.add_to_parser(parser)
+        arguments_p = Arguments.add_to_parser(parser)
         args = parser.parse_args()
         try:
             self.config = search.Config.load()
diff --git a/src/ldaptool/search/arguments.py b/src/ldaptool/search/arguments.py
index 3445cca..1eef170 100644
--- a/src/ldaptool/search/arguments.py
+++ b/src/ldaptool/search/arguments.py
@@ -44,10 +44,6 @@ class Arguments(ldaptool.decode.arguments.Arguments):
         default=False,
         metadata=argclasses.arg(help="Query global catalogue (and forest root as search base)"),
     )
-    raw: bool = dataclasses.field(
-        default=False,
-        metadata=argclasses.arg(help="Don't pipe output through ldap-decode"),
-    )
     realm: str = dataclasses.field(metadata=argclasses.arg(required=True, help="Realm to search in"))
     server: typing.Optional[str] = dataclasses.field(
         default=None,
@@ -77,22 +73,6 @@ class Arguments(ldaptool.decode.arguments.Arguments):
             help="Explicit search base (defaults to root of domain / forest with --gc)",
         ),
     )
-    csv: bool = dataclasses.field(
-        default=False,
-        metadata=argclasses.arg(help="CSV output - requires list of attributes"),
-    )
-    table: bool = dataclasses.field(
-        default=False,
-        metadata=argclasses.arg(
-            help="Markdown table output - requires list of attributes",
-        ),
-    )
-    sort: bool = dataclasses.field(
-        default=False,
-        metadata=argclasses.arg(
-            help="Sorted table output - defaults to markdown --table unless --csv is given",
-        ),
-    )
 
     def __post_init__(self) -> None:
         if not self.filter is None:
@@ -107,19 +87,6 @@ class Arguments(ldaptool.decode.arguments.Arguments):
             # probably doesn't like empty filter?
             self.filter = "(objectClass=*)"
 
-        # can't print both csv and markdown
-        if self.csv and self.table:
-            raise SystemExit("Can't use both --table and --csv")
-
-        if self.sort:
-            if not self.table and not self.csv:
-                # default to markdown table
-                self.table = True
-
-        if self.table:
-            # markdown requires underlying csv
-            self.csv = True
-
         # extract special attribute names
         self.columns = self.attributes  # use all names for columns (headings and their order)
         attributes_set: dict[str, str] = {arg.lower(): arg for arg in self.attributes}  # index by lowercase name
@@ -135,17 +102,3 @@ class Arguments(ldaptool.decode.arguments.Arguments):
         if self.columns and not self.attributes:
             # if we only wanted fake attributes, make sure we only request 'dn' - empty list would query all attributes
             self.attributes = ["dn"]
-
-        if self.csv:
-            if not self.columns:
-                raise SystemExit("Table output requires attributes")
-            if self.json:
-                raise SystemExit("Can't use both --table / --csv / --sort and --json")
-            if self.human:
-                raise SystemExit("Can't use both --table / --csv / --sort and --human")
-
-        if self.raw:
-            if self.csv:
-                raise SystemExit("Table output requires decode; --raw not allowed")
-            if self.json or self.human:
-                raise SystemExit("Decode options require decode; --raw not allowed")