Illustrator: Show "Path" toolbar after Direct Selection

Question

When I use the selection tool on a path or a line, Illustrator shows me a Path Toolbar at the top, where I can adjust stroke, dashing, etc. that looks like this

Often I'm working with imported diagrams where the parts are heavily grouped into each other. Here, the Direct Select tool becomes extremely handy because I can directly select the single parts of interest.

After selection, I get the Anchor Point Toolbar which is most of the time what I want, but not always.

Question: How can I make Illustrator show me Path Toolbar with the current selection? It seems I can do this by clicking on the Curvature Tool but isn't there a direct way to do this?

Edit: A simple example

Consider the following two unfilled shapes, that are grouped together. I can only use Direct Selection by clicking on the path, which leaves me with the Anchor Toolbar.

If I now click on Curve Tool, the toolbar switches to the Path Toolbar where I can adjust colors and strokes. Is there a better way to switch to the Path Toolbar?

Answer 1

Holding the Option/Alt down while using the Direct Selection Tool will access the Group Selection Tool.

Now, the name "Group Selection Tool" is a rather misleading name.... what it really does is select the entire clicked object. So, for example in the shapes in your question..... clicking a path with just the Direct Selection tool will select either a path or an anchor, depending upon what you click. However, holding Option/Alt down will select the entire clicked object, but not select anything else within the same Group.

You can see the Group Selection Tool by just clicking and holding on the Direct Selection Tool in the Toolbar. It's there. But there's generally no reason to actually grab that specific tool from the toolbar since all you need is the Option/Alt key.

I tend to vary between using Direct Select and bouncing my thumb on the Option/Alt as needed.