finding the max value of an attribute

[openldap <openldap@ayni.com>]

Hi every
when searching values in the LDAP directory, it certainly has occured to 
everybody to have to find the maximum value of an attribute. e.g. when 
defining a new user in the directory you might specify one more than the 
maximum value of all uidNumber attributes as the new user's uidNumber.

i was looking at RFC 2254 and 4515, but could not find anything obvious.

is there a way to find the maximum value of an attribute and possibly 
the DN to whom it belongs only using ldap-search (no perl or php 
prgramming)?

or did i just oversee something obvious?

any hint is very much appreciated. thank you very much.

suomi