Hi:

I'd like to create a shape in Inkscape, then change the colour of the shape. The shape takes the form of a sideways "S". I can make it by combining two arcs. It then appears in grey. I would like the shape to be another color, say blue, so I use the stroke and fill dialog.

When I select the shape, and use the eyedropper to select the blue color I want, the shape (a curved line, not a closed figure), immediately changes - it forms two half circles and fills them with the color I want, rather changing the color of the S shaped line. Half of the entire line is also colored (the "inside" half?) , and the other half is still gray. I want the whole line to change colour, not half the line. And I don't want it to be filled. If I go to the Fill and Stroke dialog, and click the "X" on the "Fill" tab - all the colour disappears, and I'm back to where I started trying to change the color.

How can I change the colour of a simple, open line?

I have done a fair bit of googling, and searched this forum. I have tried combining the arcs using ctrl-k, but this does not change the behaviour.

It seems I have to do something to this line so that I can change the color of the line, but I do know what I'm supposed to do.

Any pointers much appreciated.

Thanks,

epiphanius

Use Shift key while clicking on the color chips to assign a stroke color instead of a fill color, or set a color on the Stroke tab of the Fill and stroke dialogue.

If you have two arcs and want them to be one object union them (Ctrl + +) or Combine into a single object with sub-paths (Ctrl + K).

you can assign fill or stroke color (or most other filters & effects etc) to more than one primitive shape by: (a) selecting multiple shapes using shift key, (b) using union or combine (depending on desired outcome) or other path operations (e.g. difference) to produce one shape, (c) group primitive shapes.
as you've noticed, open shapes fill by joining start and end points, which is not suitable for you. instead (i think) you want to use the fill/stroke dialog to assign a stroke color and adjust stroke with.
you can also draw an S curve as a single shape/object with bezier tool, instead of joining two arcs.
you could also draw the S curve (for use with a fill color) by joining two simple S curve outliens with a bit of space between them. don't forget the node tool to individually move outline control points....and the shortcut undo keys for when you get it wrong.

In addition to all the previous suggestions, you can convert an open, stroked path, to a closed filled object by using stroke to path. You can then union two separate filled paths into one....

Thank you all for the clear suggestions. They have advanced my understanding of several fundamental aspects of using Inkscape.