I am having to import a lot of PDF files into Inkscape for editing. These files are usually exported to PDF from Revit or AutoCAD. Unfortunately, this means I end up with a massive amount of separate paths as the PDF export does not seem to recognize some objects and lines (such as a dashed line is broken into the many little dashes instead of remaining a dashed line). Is there a way to fix this by simply merging all overlapping paths of the same color? I know this isn't a perfect fix but I think it could be quite useful. 

All tips and suggestions are welcome. thank you very much in advance

Ed

If you have an existing object selected, you can use Edit>Select Same>Fill Colour

Then try one of the path operations Path>Union, etc etc

Whichever one works best.

This sounds like "Select Same" then Path->Combine could work.

@inklinea @Polygon This workflow would require me to do this for every grouping of paths which would take forever. Is there a way to do this for all objects in the document?

An example file would help immensely to check out and proof different approaches&solutions.

Hmm let me try to find a good one that isn't under an NDA. These are construction plans so it is hard for me to share them.

The best way to do what you are trying to do is to open the unconverted PDF in openoffice draw or libreoffice draw.  Its been a few months, but I have a memory that the software gave me access to the individual elements on each page - as they were created.  Of course I do not remember versions.  Also this assumes components are separable.  If each page is actually just one jpg image - no go.  Then Ctrl c v page by page into inkscape.

Inkscape does not have a select by color tool.

If pages are fully 1 jpg - copy page into ink.  Export out as png.  Pull back into ink.  Count colors on a page.  Trace bitmap colors - your count plus black.  Ungroup the result.  You should have an image for each color.  Go from there.