Kind of a dumb question regarding finger positions

Greetings,

So I'm plucking along on my guitar studies...one thing that's come to
mind to ask the group is, what are the proper finger positions based on
fret number? This might be a silly question so bear with me. In
playing the first scale (chromatic), I've seen it taught that you
basically use fingers 1-4 (index through pinky) as you go up from an
open string to the various frets (1st fret = 1st finger, etc.) Then, I
suppose, the pattern repeats (frets 5-8 = fingers 1-4, frets 9-12 =
1-4, etc.). Is this true? How often is this "rule" held to? Should I
always be thinking "Oh, this is the 16th fret, better use the fourth
finger (pinky)?" Many thanks on any insight and advice.

Mike

.

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