Center New function workflow

The only way I can get the Center New function to work is to first go into Edit Mode and try to do it. Then I get the error message saying that I have to be in Object Mode. So I goes into Object Mode and hit Center New and then it works. If I just try to Center New on another object without trying to get the error in Edit Mode first it doesn’t work. Is this a bug or am I doing something wrong?

Using:
Blender for Mac 2.48a
OS 10.5.8

I don’t need to get that error message to get a new center. It woks for me. You should Try blender 2.49b.