I have scanned some handwriting and converted it to a path with Inkscape. I would like to move and color some parts. I do not understand the concept of combined paths well enough, but I noticed I need to break apart the path to change the color. However, when I break letters apart, the interior of letters like "o" becomes filled until I combine it again.

Currently, I break the complete path (whole picture) apart, combine the letter I want to color, and then combine everything else again. Combining everything else again is really tedious as you have to select it by parts.

Is there an easier way where I only combine all letters which require an empty interior (so that they look right)? Then I could color letters individually and get correctly looking "o" letters.

Each different color requires separate objects.

I might take this approach, using the Objects panel or the Layers panel:

Break apart the large path.
Combine the paths needed to create object(s) of a particular color and fill/stroke them.
Use the Objects panel to hide or lock them, or put them on a layer to hide or lock them.
Repeat.

The benefit of locking and hiding, is it makes selecting the next bunch of paths easier.

off topic
I've been wishing for a way to indent text, for all these 10 years in this forum! Not sure if TD did that on purpose, or it was an oversight. But it certainly does work. He used the List tags, but didn't use the * tag for each new list item. Brilliant!
/off topic