I'm sure this should be simple, but I can't work out how to do it. The best description of what I want to do would be the area fill tool in a paint package. I have imported some data from a cad package for a sign, made up of letter outlines and the sign outline. I want to colour different areas in different colours. How should I go about this? I've been trying combining paths, but can't get anywhere.

Thanks
Kevin

I´m afraid its not that simple.
Usually importing CAD Data you end up with many bits of single paths.
When everything is ungrouped try "Path apart" (shift+ctrl+K) then you will see that you have to deal with many single bits of paths.

To manually create a single path with these broken bits is tedious.

I often prefer some workaround:
- use bucket tool (shift-f7) this will trace colours of a screenshot of the object you want to draw.
- draw over it

As of v0.46, Inkscape has a paint bucket tool. Have you tried that?

There is a short description in the release notes:

http://wiki.inkscape.org/wiki/index.php ... ucket_tool

I agree with Macti. CAD drawing I've seen have been a mess objects. It's fine to look at, but once you start trying to use those objects it becomes a real headache. If the drawing is not too complicated, I would redraw it (using the current objects as a guide).