diff --git a/Framework/Core/include/Framework/ASoA.h b/Framework/Core/include/Framework/ASoA.h
index 57b00a06003ad..95a3967d72a70 100644
--- a/Framework/Core/include/Framework/ASoA.h
+++ b/Framework/Core/include/Framework/ASoA.h
@@ -68,12 +68,6 @@ struct Binding {
 void accessingInvalidIndexFor(const char* getter);
 void dereferenceWithWrongType();
 
-template <typename... C>
-auto createFieldsFromColumns(framework::pack<C...>)
-{
-  return std::vector<std::shared_ptr<arrow::Field>>{C::asArrowField()...};
-}
-
 using SelectionVector = std::vector<int64_t>;
 
 template <typename, typename = void>
@@ -574,6 +568,19 @@ struct is_index<Ref<Args...>, Ref> : std::true_type {
 template <typename T>
 using is_index_t = is_index<T, Index>;
 
+template <typename... C>
+auto createFieldsFromColumns(framework::pack<C...>)
+{
+  std::vector<std::shared_ptr<arrow::Field>> result;
+  ([&]() {
+    if constexpr (soa::is_persistent_v<C>) {
+      result.push_back(C::asArrowField());
+    }
+  }(),
+   ...);
+  return result;
+}
+
 struct IndexPolicyBase {
   /// Position inside the current table
   int64_t mRowIndex = 0;
@@ -775,6 +782,30 @@ struct FilteredIndexPolicy : IndexPolicyBase {
 template <typename... C>
 class Table;
 
+template <typename... Cs>
+constexpr auto select_persistent(framework::pack<Cs...>)
+{
+  return framework::selected_pack<is_persistent_t, Cs...>{};
+}
+
+template <typename... Cs>
+constexpr auto select_external_index(framework::pack<Cs...>)
+{
+  return framework::selected_pack<is_external_index_t, Cs...>{};
+}
+
+template <typename... Cs>
+constexpr auto select_internal_index(framework::pack<Cs...>)
+{
+  return framework::selected_pack<is_self_index_t, Cs...>{};
+}
+
+template <typename... Cs>
+constexpr auto select_dynamic(framework::pack<Cs...>)
+{
+  return framework::selected_pack<is_dynamic_t, Cs...>{};
+}
+
 /// Similar to a pair but not a pair, to avoid
 /// exposing the second type everywhere.
 template <typename C>
@@ -789,7 +820,6 @@ struct RowViewCore : public IP, C... {
   using policy_t = IP;
   using table_t = o2::soa::Table<C...>;
   using all_columns = framework::pack<C...>;
-  using persistent_columns_t = framework::selected_pack<is_persistent_t, C...>;
   using dynamic_columns_t = framework::selected_pack<is_dynamic_t, C...>;
   using index_columns_t = framework::selected_pack<is_index_t, C...>;
   constexpr inline static bool has_index_v = framework::pack_size(index_columns_t{}) > 0;
@@ -800,7 +830,7 @@ struct RowViewCore : public IP, C... {
     : IP{policy},
       C(columnData[framework::has_type_at_v<C>(all_columns{})])...
   {
-    bindIterators(persistent_columns_t{});
+    bindIterators(all_columns{});
     bindAllDynamicColumns(dynamic_columns_t{});
     // In case we have an index column might need to constrain the actual
     // number of rows in the view to the range provided by the index.
@@ -816,7 +846,7 @@ struct RowViewCore : public IP, C... {
     : IP{static_cast<IP const&>(other)},
       C(static_cast<C const&>(other))...
   {
-    bindIterators(persistent_columns_t{});
+    bindIterators(all_columns{});
     bindAllDynamicColumns(dynamic_columns_t{});
   }
 
@@ -824,7 +854,7 @@ struct RowViewCore : public IP, C... {
   {
     IP::operator=(static_cast<IP&&>(other));
     (void(static_cast<C&>(*this) = static_cast<C&&>(other)), ...);
-    bindIterators(persistent_columns_t{});
+    bindIterators(all_columns{});
     bindAllDynamicColumns(dynamic_columns_t{});
   }
 
@@ -832,7 +862,7 @@ struct RowViewCore : public IP, C... {
   {
     IP::operator=(static_cast<IP const&>(other));
     (void(static_cast<C&>(*this) = static_cast<C const&>(other)), ...);
-    bindIterators(persistent_columns_t{});
+    bindIterators(all_columns{});
     bindAllDynamicColumns(dynamic_columns_t{});
     return *this;
   }
@@ -972,7 +1002,12 @@ struct RowViewCore : public IP, C... {
   auto bindIterators(framework::pack<PC...>)
   {
     using namespace o2::soa;
-    (void(PC::mColumnIterator.mCurrentPos = &this->mRowIndex), ...);
+    ([&]() {
+      if constexpr (soa::is_persistent_v<PC>) {
+        PC::mColumnIterator.mCurrentPos = &this->mRowIndex;
+      }
+    }(),
+     ...);
   }
 
   template <typename... DC>
@@ -1069,7 +1104,7 @@ static auto hasColumnForKey(framework::pack<C...>, std::string const& key)
 template <typename T>
 static std::pair<bool, std::string> hasKey(std::string const& key)
 {
-  return {hasColumnForKey(typename T::persistent_columns_t{}, key), getLabelFromType<T>()};
+  return {hasColumnForKey(typename T::columns{}, key), getLabelFromType<T>()};
 }
 
 template <typename... C>
@@ -1369,6 +1404,9 @@ auto select(T const& t, framework::expressions::Filter const& f)
 
 arrow::ChunkedArray* getIndexFromLabel(arrow::Table* table, const char* label);
 
+template <typename... Cs>
+using select_persistent_t = decltype(select_persistent(framework::pack<Cs...>{}));
+
 /// A Table class which observes an arrow::Table and provides
 /// It is templated on a set of Column / DynamicColumn types.
 template <typename... C>
@@ -1379,7 +1417,6 @@ class Table
   using table_t = Table<C...>;
   using columns = framework::pack<C...>;
   using column_types = framework::pack<typename C::type...>;
-  using persistent_columns_t = framework::selected_pack<is_persistent_t, C...>;
   using external_index_columns_t = framework::selected_pack<is_external_index_t, C...>;
   using internal_index_columns_t = framework::selected_pack<is_self_index_t, C...>;
 
@@ -1538,7 +1575,7 @@ class Table
   {
     if constexpr (framework::has_type_conditional_v<is_binding_compatible, Key, external_index_columns_t>) {
       using IC = framework::pack_element_t<framework::has_type_at_conditional<is_binding_compatible, Key>(external_index_columns_t{}), external_index_columns_t>;
-      return mColumnChunks[framework::has_type_at<IC>(persistent_columns_t{})];
+      return mColumnChunks[framework::has_type_at<IC>(select_persistent(columns{}))];
     } else if constexpr (std::is_same_v<table_t, Key>) {
       return nullptr;
     } else {
@@ -2691,7 +2728,6 @@ struct Join : JoinBase<Ts...> {
 
   using self_t = Join<Ts...>;
   using table_t = base;
-  using persistent_columns_t = typename table_t::persistent_columns_t;
   using iterator = typename table_t::template RowView<Join<Ts...>, Ts...>;
   using const_iterator = iterator;
   using unfiltered_iterator = iterator;
@@ -2801,7 +2837,6 @@ struct Concat : ConcatBase<T1, T2> {
   using left_t = T1;
   using right_t = T2;
   using table_t = ConcatBase<T1, T2>;
-  using persistent_columns_t = typename table_t::persistent_columns_t;
 
   using iterator = typename table_t::template RowView<Concat<T1, T2>, T1, T2>;
   using filtered_iterator = typename table_t::template RowViewFiltered<Concat<T1, T2>, T1, T2>;
@@ -2826,7 +2861,6 @@ class FilteredBase : public T
   using self_t = FilteredBase<T>;
   using originals = originals_pack_t<T>;
   using table_t = typename T::table_t;
-  using persistent_columns_t = typename T::persistent_columns_t;
   using external_index_columns_t = typename T::external_index_columns_t;
 
   template <typename P, typename... Os>
diff --git a/Framework/Core/include/Framework/ASoAHelpers.h b/Framework/Core/include/Framework/ASoAHelpers.h
index 932f4fd029298..871dc25dad5c8 100644
--- a/Framework/Core/include/Framework/ASoAHelpers.h
+++ b/Framework/Core/include/Framework/ASoAHelpers.h
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ std::vector<BinningIndex> groupTable(const T& table, const BP<Cs...>& binningPol
     selectedRows = table.getSelectedRows(); // vector<int64_t>
   }
 
-  auto persistentColumns = typename BP<Cs...>::persistent_columns_t{};
+  auto persistentColumns = o2::soa::select_persistent(framework::pack<Cs...>{});
   constexpr auto persistentColumnsCount = pack_size(persistentColumns);
   auto arrowColumns = o2::soa::row_helpers::getArrowColumns(arrowTable, persistentColumns);
   auto chunksCount = arrowColumns[0]->num_chunks();
diff --git a/Framework/Core/include/Framework/AnalysisHelpers.h b/Framework/Core/include/Framework/AnalysisHelpers.h
index bcea0a1bb7d65..455d7d302b5f3 100644
--- a/Framework/Core/include/Framework/AnalysisHelpers.h
+++ b/Framework/Core/include/Framework/AnalysisHelpers.h
@@ -124,11 +124,11 @@ struct OutputForTable {
 /// means of the WritingCursor helper class, from which produces actually
 /// derives.
 template <typename T>
-struct Produces : WritingCursor<typename soa::PackToTable<typename T::table_t::persistent_columns_t>::table> {
+struct Produces : WritingCursor<typename soa::PackToTable<decltype(o2::soa::select_persistent(typename T::table_t::columns{}))>::table> {
 };
 
 template <template <typename...> class T, typename... C>
-struct Produces<T<C...>> : WritingCursor<typename soa::PackToTable<typename T<C...>::table_t::persistent_columns_t>::table> {
+struct Produces<T<C...>> : WritingCursor<typename soa::PackToTable<decltype(o2::soa::select_persistent(typename T<C...>::table_t::columns{}))>::table> {
 };
 
 /// Helper template for table transformations
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ template <typename T, typename Key>
 inline std::shared_ptr<arrow::ChunkedArray> getIndexToKey(arrow::Table* table)
 {
   using IC = framework::pack_element_t<framework::has_type_at_conditional<soa::is_binding_compatible, Key>(typename T::external_index_columns_t{}), typename T::external_index_columns_t>;
-  return table->column(framework::has_type_at<IC>(typename T::persistent_columns_t{}));
+  return table->column(framework::has_type_at<IC>(o2::soa::select_persistent(typename T::columns{})));
 }
 
 template <typename C>
@@ -310,17 +310,6 @@ struct IndexBuilder {
                           {self.template result<C1>(), std::static_pointer_cast<typename Reduction<Key, Cs>::type>(columnBuilders[framework::has_type_at_v<Cs>(framework::pack<Cs...>{})])->template result<Cs>()...},
                           {self.field(), std::static_pointer_cast<typename Reduction<Key, Cs>::type>(columnBuilders[framework::has_type_at_v<Cs>(framework::pack<Cs...>{})])->field()...});
   }
-
-  template <typename IDX, typename Key, typename T1, typename... T>
-  static auto makeIndex(Key const& key, std::tuple<T1, T...>&& tables)
-  {
-    auto t = IDX{indexBuilder(o2::aod::MetadataTrait<IDX>::metadata::tableLabel(),
-                              typename o2::aod::MetadataTrait<IDX>::metadata::index_pack_t{},
-                              key,
-                              std::make_tuple(std::decay_t<T1>{{std::get<T1>(tables)}}, std::decay_t<T>{{std::get<T>(tables)}}...))};
-    t.bindExternalIndices(&key, &std::get<T1>(tables), &std::get<T>(tables)...);
-    return t;
-  }
 };
 
 /// This helper struct allows you to declare index tables to be created in a task
diff --git a/Framework/Core/include/Framework/AnalysisTask.h b/Framework/Core/include/Framework/AnalysisTask.h
index 0e570a49c3ccf..b975802847024 100644
--- a/Framework/Core/include/Framework/AnalysisTask.h
+++ b/Framework/Core/include/Framework/AnalysisTask.h
@@ -147,10 +147,10 @@ struct AnalysisDataProcessorBuilder {
     using dT = std::decay_t<T>;
     if constexpr (is_enumeration_v<dT> == false) {
       if constexpr (soa::is_soa_filtered_v<dT>) {
-        auto fields = createFieldsFromColumns(typename dT::table_t::persistent_columns_t{});
+        auto fields = createFieldsFromColumns(typename dT::table_t::columns{});
         eInfos.emplace_back(ai, hash, dT::hashes(), std::make_shared<arrow::Schema>(fields));
       } else if constexpr (soa::is_soa_iterator_v<dT>) {
-        auto fields = createFieldsFromColumns(typename dT::parent_t::persistent_columns_t{});
+        auto fields = createFieldsFromColumns(typename dT::parent_t::columns{});
         if constexpr (std::is_same_v<typename dT::policy_t, soa::FilteredIndexPolicy>) {
           eInfos.emplace_back(ai, hash, dT::parent_t::hashes(), std::make_shared<arrow::Schema>(fields));
         }
diff --git a/Framework/Core/include/Framework/BinningPolicy.h b/Framework/Core/include/Framework/BinningPolicy.h
index ddc696fbcc3af..203875b7fde81 100644
--- a/Framework/Core/include/Framework/BinningPolicy.h
+++ b/Framework/Core/include/Framework/BinningPolicy.h
@@ -14,8 +14,6 @@
 
 #include "Framework/HistogramSpec.h" // only for VARIABLE_WIDTH
 #include "Framework/Pack.h"
-#include "Framework/ArrowTypes.h"
-#include <optional>
 
 namespace o2::framework
 {
@@ -268,8 +266,6 @@ struct FlexibleBinningPolicy<std::tuple<Ls...>, Ts...> : BinningPolicyBase<sizeo
     return BinningPolicyBase<sizeof...(Ts)>::template getBin<T2s...>(data);
   }
 
-  using persistent_columns_t = framework::selected_pack<o2::soa::is_persistent_t, Ts...>;
-
  private:
   std::tuple<Ls...> mBinningFunctions;
 };
@@ -296,8 +292,6 @@ struct ColumnBinningPolicy : BinningPolicyBase<sizeof...(Ts)> {
   {
     return BinningPolicyBase<sizeof...(Ts)>::template getBin<typename Ts::type...>(data);
   }
-
-  using persistent_columns_t = framework::selected_pack<o2::soa::is_persistent_t, Ts...>;
 };
 
 template <typename C>
@@ -321,8 +315,6 @@ struct NoBinningPolicy {
   {
     return std::get<0>(data);
   }
-
-  using persistent_columns_t = framework::selected_pack<o2::soa::is_persistent_t, C>;
 };
 
 } // namespace o2::framework
diff --git a/Framework/Core/include/Framework/RootTableBuilderHelpers.h b/Framework/Core/include/Framework/RootTableBuilderHelpers.h
index 0fa818084a5a4..dd402859680bc 100644
--- a/Framework/Core/include/Framework/RootTableBuilderHelpers.h
+++ b/Framework/Core/include/Framework/RootTableBuilderHelpers.h
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ struct RootTableBuilderHelpers {
   template <typename T>
   static void convertASoA(TableBuilder& builder, TTreeReader& reader)
   {
-    return convertASoAColumns(builder, reader, typename T::persistent_columns_t{});
+    return convertASoAColumns(builder, reader, o2::soa::select_persistent(typename T::columns{}));
   }
 };
 
diff --git a/Framework/Core/include/Framework/TableBuilder.h b/Framework/Core/include/Framework/TableBuilder.h
index 7de45f58d2e62..09f311b2a33e8 100644
--- a/Framework/Core/include/Framework/TableBuilder.h
+++ b/Framework/Core/include/Framework/TableBuilder.h
@@ -797,7 +797,7 @@ class TableBuilder
   {
     return [this]<typename... Cs>(pack<Cs...>) {
       return this->template persist<typename Cs::type...>({Cs::columnLabel()...});
-    }(typename T::table_t::persistent_columns_t{});
+    }(o2::soa::select_persistent(typename T::table_t::columns{}));
   }
 
   template <typename T, typename E>
@@ -805,7 +805,7 @@ class TableBuilder
   {
     return [this]<typename... Cs>(pack<Cs...>) {
       return this->template persist<E>({Cs::columnLabel()...});
-    }(typename T::table_t::persistent_columns_t{});
+    }(o2::soa::select_persistent(typename T::table_t::columns{}));
   }
 
   template <typename... ARGS, size_t NCOLUMNS = sizeof...(ARGS)>
diff --git a/Framework/Core/test/test_ASoA.cxx b/Framework/Core/test/test_ASoA.cxx
index 9d8004fdc46e3..3734acd6c362e 100644
--- a/Framework/Core/test/test_ASoA.cxx
+++ b/Framework/Core/test/test_ASoA.cxx
@@ -552,7 +552,7 @@ TEST_CASE("TestDereference")
 
 TEST_CASE("TestSchemaCreation")
 {
-  auto schema = std::make_shared<arrow::Schema>(createFieldsFromColumns(o2::aod::Points::persistent_columns_t{}));
+  auto schema = std::make_shared<arrow::Schema>(createFieldsFromColumns(o2::aod::Points::columns{}));
   REQUIRE(schema->num_fields() == 2);
   REQUIRE(schema->field(0)->name() == "fX");
   REQUIRE(schema->field(1)->name() == "fY");
diff --git a/Framework/Core/test/test_Expressions.cxx b/Framework/Core/test/test_Expressions.cxx
index 176db6a259a7c..6b7d20e1b1698 100644
--- a/Framework/Core/test/test_Expressions.cxx
+++ b/Framework/Core/test/test_Expressions.cxx
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ TEST_CASE("TestGandivaTreeCreation")
   REQUIRE(gandiva_expression2->ToString() == "if (bool less_than_or_equal_to(float absf((float) fSigned1Pt), (const float) 1.17549e-38 raw(7fffe1))) { (const float) 8.50709e+37 raw(7e80001f) } else { float absf(float divide((const float) 1 raw(3f800000), (float) fSigned1Pt)) }");
 
   auto projector_b = createProjector(schema2, ptespecs, resfield2);
-  auto fields = o2::soa::createFieldsFromColumns(o2::aod::Tracks::persistent_columns_t{});
+  auto fields = o2::soa::createFieldsFromColumns(o2::aod::Tracks::columns{});
   auto schema_p = std::make_shared<arrow::Schema>(fields);
   auto projector_alt = o2::framework::expressions::createProjectors(o2::framework::pack<o2::aod::track::Pt>{}, fields, schema_p);
 
diff --git a/Framework/Core/test/test_IndexBuilder.cxx b/Framework/Core/test/test_IndexBuilder.cxx
index 1a9912fc9c540..217a014c54371 100644
--- a/Framework/Core/test/test_IndexBuilder.cxx
+++ b/Framework/Core/test/test_IndexBuilder.cxx
@@ -56,8 +56,8 @@ DECLARE_SOA_INDEX_COLUMN(Flag, flag);
 DECLARE_SOA_INDEX_COLUMN(Category, category);
 } // namespace indices
 
-DECLARE_SOA_TABLE(IDXs, "TST", "Index", Index<>, indices::PointId, indices::DistanceId, indices::FlagId, indices::CategoryId);
-DECLARE_SOA_TABLE(IDX2s, "TST", "Index2", Index<>, indices::DistanceId, indices::PointId, indices::FlagId, indices::CategoryId);
+DECLARE_SOA_TABLE(IDXs, "TST", "Index", indices::PointId, indices::DistanceId, indices::FlagId, indices::CategoryId);
+DECLARE_SOA_TABLE(IDX2s, "TST", "Index2", indices::DistanceId, indices::PointId, indices::FlagId, indices::CategoryId);
 
 TEST_CASE("TestIndexBuilder")
 {
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ TEST_CASE("TestIndexBuilder")
   auto t4 = b4.finalize();
   Categorys st4{t4};
 
-  auto t5 = IndexBuilder<Exclusive>::indexBuilder<Points>("test1a", {t1, t2, t3, t4}, typename IDXs::persistent_columns_t{}, o2::framework::pack<Points, Distances, Flags, Categorys>{});
+  auto t5 = IndexBuilder<Exclusive>::indexBuilder<Points>("test1a", {t1, t2, t3, t4}, typename IDXs::columns{}, o2::framework::pack<Points, Distances, Flags, Categorys>{});
   REQUIRE(t5->num_rows() == 4);
   IDXs idxt{t5};
   idxt.bindExternalIndices(&st1, &st2, &st3, &st4);
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ TEST_CASE("TestIndexBuilder")
     REQUIRE(row.category().pointId() == row.pointId());
   }
 
-  auto t6 = IndexBuilder<Sparse>::indexBuilder<Points>("test3", {t2, t1, t3, t4}, typename IDX2s::persistent_columns_t{}, o2::framework::pack<Distances, Points, Flags, Categorys>{});
+  auto t6 = IndexBuilder<Sparse>::indexBuilder<Points>("test3", {t2, t1, t3, t4}, typename IDX2s::columns{}, o2::framework::pack<Distances, Points, Flags, Categorys>{});
   REQUIRE(t6->num_rows() == st2.size());
   IDXs idxs{t6};
   std::array<int, 7> fs{0, 1, 2, -1, -1, 4, -1};
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ DECLARE_SOA_SLICE_INDEX_COLUMN(BinnedPoint, binsSlice);
 DECLARE_SOA_ARRAY_INDEX_COLUMN(ColoredPoint, colorsList);
 } // namespace indices
 
-DECLARE_SOA_TABLE(IDX3s, "TST", "Index3", Index<>, indices::PointId, indices::BinnedPointIdSlice, indices::ColoredPointIds);
+DECLARE_SOA_TABLE(IDX3s, "TST", "Index3", indices::PointId, indices::BinnedPointIdSlice, indices::ColoredPointIds);
 
 TEST_CASE("AdvancedIndexTables")
 {
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ TEST_CASE("AdvancedIndexTables")
                                                    {14, 34},
                                                    {8, 31, 42, 46, 58}}};
 
-  auto t3 = IndexBuilder<Sparse>::indexBuilder<Points>("test4", {t1, t2, tc}, typename IDX3s::persistent_columns_t{}, o2::framework::pack<Points, BinnedPoints, ColoredPoints>{});
+  auto t3 = IndexBuilder<Sparse>::indexBuilder<Points>("test4", {t1, t2, tc}, typename IDX3s::columns{}, o2::framework::pack<Points, BinnedPoints, ColoredPoints>{});
   REQUIRE(t3->num_rows() == st1.size());
   IDX3s idxs{t3};
   idxs.bindExternalIndices(&st1, &st2, &st3);