This persistent variable determines the direction of the severity related sorting of log records used for retrieving the 'logRecTable'. 'critical-to-normal' allows the table to be viewed sorted starting with 'critical' log records first, then moving to less severe, 'major', and others, until 'normal' records are retrieved. 'normal-to-critical' allows the table to be viewed sorted starting with 'normal' log records first, then moving to move severe, 'warning', and others, until 'critical' records are retrieved. 'logViewMethod' and 'logViewDirection' also effect the viewing order of the 'logRecTable'. 'logViewMethod' determines whether the table is retrieved primarily by chronological order, or by severity order. 'logViewMethod' takes precedence over the other viewing variables. 'logViewDirection' only applies when the 'logRecTable' is viewed by severity level. In such a case, it determines whether the records are viewed from 'critical' to 'normal' or vice versa. 'logViewDirection' takes precedence over 'logViewAge'. The default value for this variable is 'critical-to-normal'. Setting this variable to any value forces 'logViewPageControl' to be set to 1. The retrieval of the 'logRecTable' is effected by the other viewing variables, which provide sorting, filtering and page controls. These other variables are: 'logViewPageSize', 'logViewPageControl', 'logViewSeverityFilter', 'logViewMethod', 'logViewAge'.