As with anything Rockwell, understanding the subtle differences between their products, particularly related to licencing, is incredibly frustrating.
RSLinx has two major largely unrelated families of communication software.
RSLinx Classic
This is traditionally used to go online to PLCs with RSLogix 5/500/5000/ Studio 5000 Logix designer * / CCW / Drive executive.
It has several different licence versions:
RSLinx Classic Lite- No cost. Can be used to go online with the above software, can't link with third party software
RSLinx Classic Single Node, OEM, Professional, Gateway : Paid Licensed versions which provide OPC and DDE access for linking with third party software. There are subtle differences between these versions above. Professional isn't available any more, but largely the same as OEM. Single node only lets you communicate with one PLC at a time. Gateway offers other gateway options (other RSLinx clients can connect through that RSLinx session)
FactoryTalk Linx (formally RSLinx Enterprise)
Native communication platform for Factorytalk View platform (though they can use RSLinx Classic). Newer versions of Logix Designer let you optionally use it to communicate with controllers. ControlFlash Plus uses it for communication to devices.
There's the free version of Factorytalk Linx for use with the above Rockwell software. Licenced versions are available that provided OPC UA access.
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Summary: An easy way to pull data into Excel is using DDE, which requires a licensed version of RSLinx Classic (Eg: RSLinx Classic OEM)