diff --git a/include/xlnt/workbook/workbook.hpp b/include/xlnt/workbook/workbook.hpp
index 00ad3710..275363fb 100644
--- a/include/xlnt/workbook/workbook.hpp
+++ b/include/xlnt/workbook/workbook.hpp
@@ -760,11 +760,6 @@ public:
     /// </summary>
     std::size_t add_shared_string(const rich_text &shared, bool allow_duplicates = false);
 
-    /// <summary>
-    /// Returns a reference to the shared string ordered by id
-    /// </summary>
-    const std::map<std::size_t, rich_text> &shared_strings_by_id() const;
-
     /// <summary>
     /// Returns a reference to the shared string related to the specified index
     /// </summary>
@@ -774,13 +769,13 @@ public:
     /// Returns a reference to the shared strings being used by cells
     /// in this workbook.
     /// </summary>
-    std::unordered_map<rich_text, std::size_t, rich_text_hash> &shared_strings();
+    std::vector<rich_text> &shared_strings();
 
     /// <summary>
     /// Returns a reference to the shared strings being used by cells
     /// in this workbook.
     /// </summary>
-    const std::unordered_map<rich_text, std::size_t, rich_text_hash> &shared_strings() const;
+    const std::vector<rich_text> &shared_strings() const;
 
     // Thumbnail
 
diff --git a/source/detail/implementations/workbook_impl.hpp b/source/detail/implementations/workbook_impl.hpp
index 710e13e6..76308872 100644
--- a/source/detail/implementations/workbook_impl.hpp
+++ b/source/detail/implementations/workbook_impl.hpp
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ struct workbook_impl
 
     std::list<worksheet_impl> worksheets_;
     std::unordered_map<rich_text, std::size_t, rich_text_hash> shared_strings_ids_;
-    std::map<std::size_t, rich_text> shared_strings_values_;
+    std::vector<rich_text> shared_strings_values_;
 
     optional<stylesheet> stylesheet_;
 
diff --git a/source/detail/serialization/xlsx_consumer.cpp b/source/detail/serialization/xlsx_consumer.cpp
index 62d9c418..ede14048 100644
--- a/source/detail/serialization/xlsx_consumer.cpp
+++ b/source/detail/serialization/xlsx_consumer.cpp
@@ -2088,7 +2088,7 @@ void xlsx_consumer::read_shared_string_table()
     {
         expect_start_element(qn("spreadsheetml", "si"), xml::content::complex);
         auto rt = read_rich_text(qn("spreadsheetml", "si"));
-        target_.add_shared_string(rt);
+        target_.add_shared_string(rt, true);
         expect_end_element(qn("spreadsheetml", "si"));
     }
 
diff --git a/source/detail/serialization/xlsx_producer.cpp b/source/detail/serialization/xlsx_producer.cpp
index e6683a31..db8279af 100644
--- a/source/detail/serialization/xlsx_producer.cpp
+++ b/source/detail/serialization/xlsx_producer.cpp
@@ -944,12 +944,12 @@ void xlsx_producer::write_shared_string_table(const relationship & /*rel*/)
     }
 
     write_attribute("count", string_count);
-    write_attribute("uniqueCount", source_.shared_strings_by_id().size());
+    write_attribute("uniqueCount", source_.shared_strings().size());
 
-    for (const auto &string : source_.shared_strings_by_id())
+    for (const auto &text : source_.shared_strings())
     {
         write_start_element(xmlns, "si");
-        write_rich_text(xmlns, string.second);
+        write_rich_text(xmlns, text);
         write_end_element(xmlns, "si");
     }
 
diff --git a/source/workbook/workbook.cpp b/source/workbook/workbook.cpp
index 32217224..11c7afa0 100644
--- a/source/workbook/workbook.cpp
+++ b/source/workbook/workbook.cpp
@@ -1348,32 +1348,25 @@ const manifest &workbook::manifest() const
     return d_->manifest_;
 }
 
-const std::map<std::size_t, rich_text> &workbook::shared_strings_by_id() const
-{
-    return d_->shared_strings_values_;
-}
-
 const rich_text &workbook::shared_strings(std::size_t index) const
 {
-    auto it = d_->shared_strings_values_.find(index);
-
-    if (it != d_->shared_strings_values_.end())
+    if (index < d_->shared_strings_values_.size())
     {
-        return it->second;
+        return d_->shared_strings_values_.at(index);
     }
 
     static rich_text empty;
     return empty;
 }
 
-std::unordered_map<rich_text, std::size_t, rich_text_hash> &workbook::shared_strings()
+std::vector<rich_text> &workbook::shared_strings()
 {
-    return d_->shared_strings_ids_;
+    return d_->shared_strings_values_;
 }
 
-const std::unordered_map<rich_text, std::size_t, rich_text_hash> &workbook::shared_strings() const
+const std::vector<rich_text> &workbook::shared_strings() const
 {
-    return d_->shared_strings_ids_;
+    return d_->shared_strings_values_;
 }
 
 std::size_t workbook::add_shared_string(const rich_text &shared, bool allow_duplicates)
@@ -1392,7 +1385,7 @@ std::size_t workbook::add_shared_string(const rich_text &shared, bool allow_dupl
 
     auto sz = d_->shared_strings_ids_.size();
     d_->shared_strings_ids_[shared] = sz;
-    d_->shared_strings_values_[sz] = shared;
+    d_->shared_strings_values_.push_back(shared);
 
     return sz;
 }
diff --git a/tests/data/Issue494_shared_string.xlsx b/tests/data/Issue494_shared_string.xlsx
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..87d8a17d
Binary files /dev/null and b/tests/data/Issue494_shared_string.xlsx differ
diff --git a/tests/workbook/workbook_test_suite.cpp b/tests/workbook/workbook_test_suite.cpp
index 1c3ab1b5..be17357e 100644
--- a/tests/workbook/workbook_test_suite.cpp
+++ b/tests/workbook/workbook_test_suite.cpp
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ public:
         register_test(test_load_file);
         register_test(test_Issue279);
         register_test(test_Issue353);
+        register_test(test_Issue494);
     }
 
     void test_active_sheet()
@@ -509,5 +510,14 @@ public:
         xlnt_assert_equals(ws.row_properties(1).spans.get(), "1:8");
         xlnt_assert_equals(ws.row_properties(17).spans.get(), "2:7");
     }
+
+    void test_Issue494()
+    {
+        xlnt::workbook wb;
+        wb.load(path_helper::test_file("Issue494_shared_string.xlsx"));
+        auto ws = wb.active_sheet();
+        xlnt_assert_equals(ws.cell(2, 1).to_string(), "V1.00");
+        xlnt_assert_equals(ws.cell(2, 2).to_string(), "V1.00");
+    }
 };
 static workbook_test_suite x;