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Behavior profiles are standalone ABL documents. Agents attach them with USE BEHAVIOR_PROFILE: <name>, and the compiler attaches the matching profile IR to that agent.

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File contract

Behavior profile files belong in behavior_profiles/ and should use the .behavior_profile.abl suffix: 
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.<name>.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: <name> will fail resolution with a missing profile diagnosis. 
{
  "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"]
    }
  }
}

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Grammar

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:
DeclarationRequiredNotes
BEHAVIOR_PROFILE:yesCase-sensitive profile name
PRIORITY:yesHigher priority wins when profiles conflict
WHEN:yesCEL expression evaluated against context

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Agent attachment

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.

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Compile and import behavior

During import preview, the platform:
  1. Reads project.json and abl.lock.
  2. Categorizes behavior_profiles/<name>.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:
SymptomFix
Unknown layer "behavior_profiles" in layers_includedRemove it from layers_included; keep core and the manifest map.
Manifest has behavior_profiles but preview adds noneInclude the referenced behavior_profiles/<name>.behavior_profile.abl file.
Missing BEHAVIOR_PROFILE: headerStart the profile file with BEHAVIOR_PROFILE: <name>.
BEHAVIOR_PROFILE requires a PRIORITY declarationAdd PRIORITY: <number>.
BEHAVIOR_PROFILE requires a WHEN declarationAdd WHEN: <condition>, or WHEN: true for a default profile.
Agent references a missing profile_use targetAdd the standalone profile file or remove the USE reference.