if metadata_files:
                    # add metadata if `metadata_files` are found and `drop_metadata` is None (default) or False
                    add_metadata = not self.config.drop_metadata
                    # if `metadata_files` are found, add labels only if
                    # `drop_labels` is set up to False explicitly (not-default behavior)
                    add_labels = self.config.drop_labels is False
                else:
                    # if `metadata_files` are not found, don't add metadata
                    add_metadata = False
                    # if `metadata_files` are not found and `drop_labels` is None (default) -
                    # add labels if files are on the same level in directory hierarchy and there is more than one label
                    add_labels = (
                        (len(labels) > 1 and len(path_depths) == 1)
                        if self.config.drop_labels is None
                        else not self.config.drop_labels