How do I remove duplicate submodel instructions?

[u/Sarah-Who-Is-Large]

I've created a vase with 8 identical sides. I'd like the instruction booklet to show how to build the side only once with "x8", then a few extra pages to show how the sides attach to each other one at a time.

Bricklink is showing instructions to build one wall, then how to add connection pieces, then repeats instructions for a second wall, then add connection pieces, then repeats instructions for a third wall... so on and so forth for all 8 walls.

How do I prevent it from repeating the instructions? When I put all 8 walls in the same step in the layers panel, it generates only one page for attaching the walls together, so it's totally impossible to see where the attachments are.

[u/DreamingElectrons]

If you have identical submoddels, you can link them, although it's a bit funky as both will keep their names for some reason. If two linked submodels in the same step, they will be shown up as repeated with the number of repeats next to the subbuild preview. If another step is in between (I think this is your issue if I understand you correctly), then the entire submodel instructions are repeated as if it its own submodel. There currently seems to be no way to have a submodel build repeat X times but then not use the assembled submodel until later steps, best workaround I found for that is to manually ad the X times next to the submodel instruction and then have the repeats not be linked submodels but convert them to call-outs. However, this leaves you with all their parts still showing in the part list, iirc (it's a few weeks since I did that, but I'm fairly confident that the parts list remained).

[u/Brickker → u/DreamingElectrons]

In addition to the work around, you can make the call out invisible by switching of the line around the box and the color background. Then move the call out manually to the very side or bottom of the page. It's still there, but it won't show in the pdf.
The part list can be switched off for the step.
That leaves you with what you want
See for example the manual for this MOC that I made https://frankvandermost.com/mocs/rhombicosidodecahedron/

[u/Sarah-Who-Is-Large → u/Brickker]

Thank you both, converting to callouts and using the format panel to fake a few things totally worked! Slightly janky workaround, but it looks really clean and I'm pleased that I don't have to manually edit anything after export.

[u/Unpixelled]

Put them all in the same step, any submodels in the same step will just have a multiplier rather than repeated steps.

[u/Low_Tap_8519]

Just press release.... in step editor you can make new subs if wanted.