diff --git a/crudkit/config.py b/crudkit/config.py
index ee3f3c1..a19d4d3 100644
--- a/crudkit/config.py
+++ b/crudkit/config.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 import os
+import os
 from typing import Dict, Any, Optional, Type
 from urllib.parse import quote_plus
 from pathlib import Path
diff --git a/crudkit/core/base.py b/crudkit/core/base.py
index c66aaf3..2204778 100644
--- a/crudkit/core/base.py
+++ b/crudkit/core/base.py
@@ -11,26 +11,37 @@ class CRUDMixin:
 
     def as_dict(self, fields: list[str] | None = None):
         """
-        Serialize mapped columns. Honors projection if either:
-            - 'fields' is passed explicitly, or
-            -
+        Serialize the instance.
+            - If 'fields' (possibly dotted) is provided, emit exactly those keys.
+            - Else, if '__crudkit_projection__' is set on the instance, emit those keys.
+            - Else, fall back to all mapped columns on this class hierarchy.
+        Always includes 'id' when present unless explicitly excluded.
         """
-        allowed = None
+        if fields is None:
+            fields = getattr(self, "__crudkit_projection__", None)
+
         if fields:
-            allowed = set(fields)
-        else:
-            allowed = getattr(self, "__crudkit_root_fields__", None)
+            out = {}
+            if "id" not in fields and hasattr(self, "id"):
+                out["id"] = getattr(self, "id")
+            for f in fields:
+                cur = self
+                for part in f.split("."):
+                    if cur is None:
+                        break
+                    cur = getattr(cur, part, None)
+                out[f] = cur
+            return out
+
         result = {}
-        for cls in self.__class__.__mro__:
-            if not hasattr(cls, "__table__"):
-                continue
-            for column in cls.__table__.columns:
-                name = column.name
-                if allowed is not None and name not in allowed and name != "id":
-                    continue
-                result[name] = getattr(self, name)
+        for cls in self.__clas__.__mro__:
+            if hasattr(cls, "__table__"):
+                for column in cls.__table__.columns:
+                    name = column.name
+                    result[name] = getattr(self, name)
         return result
 
+
 class Version(Base):
     __tablename__ = "versions"
 
diff --git a/crudkit/core/service.py b/crudkit/core/service.py
index ab1be78..f84d276 100644
--- a/crudkit/core/service.py
+++ b/crudkit/core/service.py
@@ -101,23 +101,40 @@ class CRUDService(Generic[T]):
             if limit is not None and limit > 0:
                 query = query.limit(limit)
 
-        # return query.all()
         rows = query.all()
 
-        try:
-            rf_names = [c.key for c in (root_fields or [])]
-        except NameError:
-            rf_names = []
-        if rf_names:
-            allow = set(rf_names)
-            if "id" not in allow and hasattr(self.model, "id"):
-                allow.add("id")
+        proj = []
+        if root_fields:
+            proj.extend(c.key for c in root_fields)
+        for path, names in (rel_field_names or {}).items():
+            prefix = ".".join(path)
+            for n in names:
+                proj.append(f"{prefix}.{n}")
+
+        if proj and "id" not in proj and hasattr(self.model, "id"):
+            proj.insert(0, "id")
+
+        if proj:
             for obj in rows:
                 try:
-                    setattr(obj, "__crudkit_root_fields__", allow)
+                    setattr(obj, "__crudkit_projection__", tuple(proj))
                 except Exception:
                     pass
 
+        # try:
+        #     rf_names = [c.key for c in (root_fields or [])]
+        # except NameError:
+        #     rf_names = []
+        # if rf_names:
+        #     allow = set(rf_names)
+        #     if "id" not in allow and hasattr(self.model, "id"):
+        #         allow.add("id")
+        #     for obj in rows:
+        #         try:
+        #             setattr(obj, "__crudkit_root_fields__", allow)
+        #         except Exception:
+        #             pass
+
         return rows
 
     def create(self, data: dict, actor=None) -> T:
diff --git a/crudkit/ui/fragments.py b/crudkit/ui/fragments.py
index d30e24b..5913e65 100644
--- a/crudkit/ui/fragments.py
+++ b/crudkit/ui/fragments.py
@@ -35,7 +35,12 @@ def render_field(field, value):
 def render_table(objects):
     env = get_env()
     template = get_crudkit_template(env, 'table.html')
-    return template.render(objects=objects)
+    if not objects:
+        return template.render(fields=[], rows=[])
+    proj = getattr(objects[0], "__crudkit_projection__", None)
+    rows = [obj.as_dict(proj) for obj in objects]
+    fields = list(rows[0].keys())
+    return template.render(fields=fields, rows=rows)
 
 def render_form(model_cls, values, session=None):
     env = get_env()
diff --git a/crudkit/ui/templates/table.html b/crudkit/ui/templates/table.html
index b4abd80..38ff48e 100644
--- a/crudkit/ui/templates/table.html
+++ b/crudkit/ui/templates/table.html
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 <table>
-    {% if objects %}
+    {% if rows %}
         <tr>
-            {% for field in objects[0].__table__.columns %}<th>{{ field.name }}</th>{% endfor %}
+            {% for field in fields if field != "id" %}<th>{{ field }}</th>{% endfor %}
         </tr>
-        {% for obj in objects %}
-            <tr>{% for field in obj.__table__.columns %}<td>{{ obj[field.name] }}</td>{% endfor %}</tr>
+        {% for row in rows %}
+            <tr>{% for _, cell in row.items() if _ != "id" %}<td>{{ cell }}</td>{% endfor %}</tr>
         {% endfor %}
     {% else %}
         <tr><th>No data.</th></tr>