I found a set of instructions for how to do this in workstation 9 at VMware Workstation Documentation Center , but the first command offered in that document...
mount -t vmhgfs .host:/ /home/user1/shares
... modified for my linux username and shared flder name, elicits the error ...
Error: cannot mount filesystem: No such device
It's basic. How do I share a file from guest to host?
Here's the link for 12.x
Mounting Shared Folders in a Linux Guest
Looks like not much has changed.
That method (using the VMware Shared Folders feature) requires the VMware Tools to be installed.
You can also drag and drop files. Or use standard network file sharing (CIFS/SAMBA).
Unfortunately the commands in those 12.5 instructions elicit the same error.