> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://executioncontrolprotocol.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Formats and converters

> Encode, decode, and patch workflow graphs with ECP (Execution Control Protocol) format plugins.

# Formats and converters

Format plugins turn a workflow graph into another representation (and back). There is **no** root `ecp encode` / `ecp decode`. Commands live on the plugin topic:

```bash theme={null}
ecp format-toon encode --input brief.ecp.ts
ecp format-mermaid encode --input brief.ecp.ts
```

`--format` on `describe` / `run` output goes through the same plugin path. If the format plugin is not installed, the CLI returns **`ECP_PLUGINS_MISSING`**.

## First-party format plugins

| Package | Commands |
| - | - |
| `@executioncontrolprotocol/plugin-format-toon` | `ecp format-toon encode`, `decode` |
| `@executioncontrolprotocol/plugin-format-mermaid` | `ecp format-mermaid encode` |

Fluent TypeScript rendering is in **core** (`toFluentSource`, `ecp.encode(...).as("fluent")`). There is no `format-fluent` extension.

## Patch

`ecp.patch` (on the Ecp instance) applies a structured patch to a graph. Use it from code after you inspect a journal; the CLI surfaces repair through `ecp runs rerun --from`.

## Next steps

* [Plugin catalogue](https://executioncontrolprotocol.io/reference/plugins.md)
* [Error codes](https://executioncontrolprotocol.io/reference/error-codes.md)


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