>How can I avoid this message when I try to increase a char field from 60 to 80?
>
>

>'MyTableName' table
>- Unable to modify table.  
>Timeout expired.  The timeout period elapsed prior to completion of the operation or the server is not responding.
>

Usually when you run operations as a script they don't timeout. Save the script and run it.

I solved the same problem on another forum with the exact same suggestion.