Okay, so after a break in 8-ball when nothing goes in, the table is still open. Using APA rules are you allowed to hit a solid to combo a stripe? or can you only strike the color of the ball you are about to hit.

Open table means pretty much anything goes. You do not even have to call the shot. So yes, you can do a mixed combo.

as far as l know and i've been playing pool all my life, u can hit any ball after the break,combo or otherwise, to pot the 1st ball.after thet u only hit ur respective ball.

you can do a combo.
even if you hit a ball in on the break it is still an open table.
that is if you play by the real rules.
not the highschool rules.

Yes on open table only untill a legal ball is made - not the 8

Using APA rules, after a break where no ball is pocketed, you can blast the cue ball as hard as you can into any ball but the 8, and if anything goes in (but the 8 of course), it is still your turn.