Switch Tools in newer versions Query

Hi, I was previously using Corel X6 but have now treated myself to the most recent version.

Previously I could draw a shape with the freehand tool, then click ctrl A to select all the nodes in that shape, and it switched you to the shape tool and opened a bar on the top where you could turn all nodes to curves, I found it enormously useful, can anyone tell me if there's another way to do this, as it doesn't seem to work on the new version? It's driving me mad!

Many thanks Charlie x