> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://koreai.mintlify.site/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Behavior profiles Behavior profiles are standalone ABL documents. Agents attach them with `USE BEHAVIOR_PROFILE: `, and the compiler attaches the matching profile IR to that agent. ## File contract Behavior profile files belong in `behavior_profiles/` and should use the `.behavior_profile.abl` suffix: ```text theme={null} behavior_profiles/voice_vip.behavior_profile.abl ``` The manifest records them under `behavior_profiles`, while `layers_included` still uses `core`. Do'nt add `behavior_profiles` to `layers_included`. The manifest entry is a pointer, not the profile definition. Import preview compiles the actual file at `behavior_profiles..path`. A package that only lists a profile in `project.json` but omits the referenced `.abl` file doesn't create the profile; agents with `USE BEHAVIOR_PROFILE: ` will fail resolution with a missing profile diagnosis. ```json theme={null} { "format_version": "2.0", "layers_included": ["core"], "behavior_profiles": { "voice_vip": { "name": "voice_vip", "path": "behavior_profiles/voice_vip.behavior_profile.abl", "priority": 100, "when_summary": "channel == voice", "used_by": ["Support_Agent"] } } } ``` ## Grammar ```yaml theme={null} BEHAVIOR_PROFILE: voice_vip PRIORITY: 100 WHEN: channel == "voice" INSTRUCTIONS: | Speak concisely and confirm one thing at a time. CONVERSATION: speaking: tone: warm max_sentences: 2 VOICE: instructions: "Use a calm voice with clear pauses." TOOLS: HIDE: [internal_debug_tool] GATHER: FIELD_OVERRIDES: account_id: prompt: "Please say or enter your account number." ``` Required declarations: | Declaration | Required | Notes | | ------------------- | -------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | `BEHAVIOR_PROFILE:` | yes | Case-sensitive profile name | | `PRIORITY:` | yes | Non-negative integer. Higher priority wins when profiles conflict. | | `WHEN:` | yes | CEL expression evaluated against context (`WHEN: true` for a default profile). | ## Profile blocks Beyond the required declarations, a profile can override several aspects of agent behavior. All blocks are optional. ### CONSTRAINTS Adds business-rule constraints while the profile is active (a list of strings). ```yaml theme={null} CONSTRAINTS: - "Never reveal internal tool names." - "Always confirm amounts above $500." ``` ### RESPONSE Shapes response rendering. | Sub-key | Type | Description | | --------------------- | ---------- | --------------------------------------------- | | `max_buttons` | `number` | Maximum interactive buttons to render. | | `fallback_format` | `string` | Format to fall back to (for example. `text`). | | `media_types` | `string[]` | Allowed media types. | | `max_response_length` | `number` | Maximum response length. | ### VOICE Voice (TTS) overrides while the profile is active. Sub-keys: `instructions`, `ssml`, `plain_text` (same shape as the [agent voice config](/agent-platform/abl-reference/rich-content-and-expressions#voice-configuration)). ### TOOLS `HIDE:` removes tools from the agent's tool set; `ADD:` injects new tool definitions while the profile is active. ```yaml theme={null} TOOLS: HIDE: [internal_debug_tool] ADD: priority_callback(reason: string) -> {ticket_id: string} description: "Open a VIP priority callback ticket" PARAMETERS: - reason: string ``` ### CONVERSATION Conversation-style overrides, organized into three sub-sections: * **`speaking`** — output style: `style`, `tone`, `emotion`, `pace`, `variety`, `max_sentences`, `one_thing_at_a_time`, `language_policy` (`interaction_context` / `agent_default` / `fixed`), `fixed_language`, `tool_lead_in`, `tool_results`, `readback`, `handoffs`, `phrases_ref`, `pronunciations_ref`. * **`listening`** — input handling: `barge_in`, `backchannels`, `on_pause`, `on_overlap`, `on_unclear_audio`, `on_self_correction`, `use_audio_cues`. * **`interaction`** — dialogue behavior: `answer_shape`, `detail`, `initiative`, `grounding`, `clarification`, `confirmation`, `uncertainty`, `empathy`, `repair`, `context`, `closure`, `assumption_handling`, `flow_mode`, and more. ```yaml theme={null} CONVERSATION: speaking: tone: warm max_sentences: 2 one_thing_at_a_time: true listening: barge_in: allow interaction: clarification: max_questions: 1 ``` ### GATHER Overrides gather behavior. Top-level keys `validation_style` and `confirmation`, plus a `FIELD_OVERRIDES:` block (note the uppercase keyword) that adjusts individual fields. ```yaml theme={null} GATHER: validation_style: lenient confirmation: always FIELD_OVERRIDES: account_id: prompt: "Please say or enter your account number." required: true skip: false validation: "len(account_id) == 10" extraction_hints: ["Read digits individually on voice"] ``` ### FLOW Overrides the agent's flow while the profile is active. | Sub-keyword | Shape | Description | | ------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------- | | `SKIP` | `string[]` | Step names to skip. | | `REPLACE` | `string` | Replace the flow with a named flow. | | `OVERRIDES` | per-step `{ respond?, transition?, VOICE?, RICH_CONTENT? }` | Override specific steps (alias `OVERRIDE`). | | `INSERTIONS` | list of `- BEFORE: ` / `- AFTER: ` + step body | Insert steps relative to existing ones. | ```yaml theme={null} FLOW: SKIP: [upsell_step] OVERRIDES: greeting: respond: "Welcome back — I'll keep this quick." INSERTIONS: - BEFORE: payment REASONING: false RESPOND: "Confirming your VIP discount first." ``` An **inline** `BEHAVIOR_PROFILE:` declared inside an agent file (rather than as a standalone document) supports only `PRIORITY`, `WHEN`, `INSTRUCTIONS`, and `CONVERSATION`. The other blocks (`CONSTRAINTS`, `RESPONSE`, `VOICE`, `TOOLS`, `GATHER`, `FLOW`) are available only in standalone profile files. ## Agent attachment ```yaml theme={null} AGENT: Support_Agent GOAL: "Resolve customer support requests" USE BEHAVIOR_PROFILE: voice_vip ``` The attached profile name must match the `BEHAVIOR_PROFILE:` header, not just the filename. Both `USE BEHAVIOR_PROFILE:` (space) and `USE_BEHAVIOR_PROFILE:` (underscore) forms are accepted. ## Compile and import behavior During import preview, the platform: 1. Reads `project.json` and `abl.lock`. 2. Categorizes `behavior_profiles/.behavior_profile.abl` as part of the `core` layer. 3. Parses the profile with the canonical ABL parser. 4. Compiles profiles before agents. 5. Resolves every `USE BEHAVIOR_PROFILE` reference against compiled profile names. 6. Reports missing or malformed profiles as import/compiler issues. Common fixes: | Symptom | Fix | | ------------------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | `Unknown layer "behavior_profiles" in layers_included` | Remove it from `layers_included`; keep `core` and the manifest map. | | Manifest has `behavior_profiles` but preview adds none | Include the referenced `behavior_profiles/.behavior_profile.abl` file. | | `Missing BEHAVIOR_PROFILE: header` | Start the profile file with `BEHAVIOR_PROFILE: `. | | `BEHAVIOR_PROFILE requires a PRIORITY declaration` | Add `PRIORITY: `. | | `BEHAVIOR_PROFILE requires a WHEN declaration` | Add `WHEN: `, or `WHEN: true` for a default profile. | | Agent references a missing `profile_use` target | Add the standalone profile file or remove the `USE` reference. |