>>>Hi,
>>>
>>>I need to change (increase) the size of the column in the parent table as well as a couple of child tables. E.g. part_no currently is char(20) which I need to make char(25). When I make this change to the parent table column in SSMS, I get the message prompting/asking that all child table columns will be modified too. When I say Yes, they are modified. And this is what I want.
>>>
>>>But before I start making this change to the customer(s) database I have a question. Should I use a different method of increasing the size of this column? That is, is there a catch or a downside of changing the column from SSMS?
>>>
>>>TIA.
>>
>>I think it should be fine. Save the script first, make a backup of the database and then you can use this method. You can also check using INFORMATION_SCHEMA.Columns if there are tables which are missed by that script.
>
>First, thank you. How do you use the INFORMATION_SCHEMA.columns to find the tables where this column exist? (if this is what you mean).

select * from INFORMATION_SCHEMA.Columns where Column_Name = 'ColumnNameToChange'