Embodiments are directed to replicating database tables for efficient data querying and to using a background task to update a database index table on a periodic basis. In one scenario, a computer system accesses an existing, original time-based database table that includes various entities and properties for each entity. Each entity also includes a time stamp value. The computer system receives an indication that the new index table is to be indexed according to a user-specified property and sorts the new index table based on both the value of the user-specified property and the time stamp value of the entity to which the user-specified property belongs. The computer system then periodically copies the entities and associated properties of the original time-based database table into a new database index table.